Before embarking on the construction, the architects tried their hand at building several platforms on the site to study the various views according to the different seasons. The end result was a house and guest house built as two perpendicular bars, the first running east to west and the second north to south
Architecture as a work of modern art. Simplicity of design and materials on a spectacular site
In Jackson, a town in Wyoming, United States, CLB Architects had the opportunity to experiment with the designing of a wood and cement villa incorporated as a form of modern art on a spectacular location on the banks of the Snake River
A grove of poplar trees near the house acts as a focal point within the clearing. From outside, it is possible to look through the living room: this transparency does not only make the structure less imposing, but also further connects the house to its site
The spaces seem sculpted. The cedar-clad parts provide warmth and contrast with the metal parts of the building. The cedar, which is arranged in an undulating pattern, creates textures and shadows, while the steel trim is designed to rust slowly, further integrating with the site. The external materials are transported inside: concrete, white plaster walls and cedar ceilings
In the main volume, the double-height kitchen and living room area opens lengthwise to the north and south with a full-length window. The only windowless room in the house is the toilet which looks like a tunnel: the full-length arched mirrors indefinitely reflect the brass railway tracks embedded in the floor, creating a dramatic trompe l'oeil tunnel effect
Gallery
