Montana Creekside Residence.indd
Project name: Montana Creekside Residence Lot Size:
49,900 square feet
House size:
5,980 square feet
Location:
Missoula, Montana
Project type:
Single Family Residence
Inspiration We started with the building site which was in poor shape with failing retaining walls and an old home that was not maintained. The native habitat area with a creek running through the backyard had also been neglected over the years by the previous owners. The new landowners wanted a modern home that employed natural materials and integrated with the landscape. The owners had some scrap steel “sucker rod” and “steel casings” from the oil and gas industry that we recycled into the design and served as a lasting reminder of the client’s years spent working with these materials in the field. Problem Solving The existing site had many complex design requirements such as the steep slope, erosion hazards, wildlife habitat area and flood plain hazards. After a year of back-and-forth with the City of Missoula, we gained approval for our proposed design. The local zoning code allowed us buildable area where you see the house as wells as a small patch of buildable area where the exterior fireplace comes to bear on the ground below. We designed for a cantilevered deck system that spanned over the existing steep slope. The slope was then regraded into a switchback pathway with corten retaining walls welded to recycled steel casing pipes that are concealed from view. Environmental Sensitivity The street side of the house maintains a low profile with a mostly one-story design that hugs the earth. The creekside (backyard) of the home has several indoor-outdoor spaces including the green roof at the master suite, cantilevered deck and the switchback steel-lined walking path that leads down to the creek where the clients can fly fish. The home also employs sustainable building strategies including super insulation, high performance windows and doors and a green roof with native plants grown at a farm 30 minutes away. Ultimately, the design emphasizes an appreciation for the land. Social Transformation When we started the project, we took time to educate the client about the benefits of sustainable design which encouraged the clients to employ solar panels, the green roof and a full riparian habitat restoration. Visitors to the home comment on its peaceful connection to the land. The contractors and craftsmen who we worked with on the home have commented on how this experience has elevated their knowledge of design and construction and what architecture can be.
initial schematic design study model
design development study model
site plan
site section
main floor plan
49,900 square feet
House size:
5,980 square feet
Location:
Missoula, Montana
Project type:
Single Family Residence
Inspiration We started with the building site which was in poor shape with failing retaining walls and an old home that was not maintained. The native habitat area with a creek running through the backyard had also been neglected over the years by the previous owners. The new landowners wanted a modern home that employed natural materials and integrated with the landscape. The owners had some scrap steel “sucker rod” and “steel casings” from the oil and gas industry that we recycled into the design and served as a lasting reminder of the client’s years spent working with these materials in the field. Problem Solving The existing site had many complex design requirements such as the steep slope, erosion hazards, wildlife habitat area and flood plain hazards. After a year of back-and-forth with the City of Missoula, we gained approval for our proposed design. The local zoning code allowed us buildable area where you see the house as wells as a small patch of buildable area where the exterior fireplace comes to bear on the ground below. We designed for a cantilevered deck system that spanned over the existing steep slope. The slope was then regraded into a switchback pathway with corten retaining walls welded to recycled steel casing pipes that are concealed from view. Environmental Sensitivity The street side of the house maintains a low profile with a mostly one-story design that hugs the earth. The creekside (backyard) of the home has several indoor-outdoor spaces including the green roof at the master suite, cantilevered deck and the switchback steel-lined walking path that leads down to the creek where the clients can fly fish. The home also employs sustainable building strategies including super insulation, high performance windows and doors and a green roof with native plants grown at a farm 30 minutes away. Ultimately, the design emphasizes an appreciation for the land. Social Transformation When we started the project, we took time to educate the client about the benefits of sustainable design which encouraged the clients to employ solar panels, the green roof and a full riparian habitat restoration. Visitors to the home comment on its peaceful connection to the land. The contractors and craftsmen who we worked with on the home have commented on how this experience has elevated their knowledge of design and construction and what architecture can be.
initial schematic design study model
design development study model
site plan
site section
main floor plan
