A villa perched on a Montana mountain, where the choice of materials and structure arise as if from the inspiration of the surrounding environment. The exterior of the house is made up of a composition in Corten steel panels, concrete, and large windows to embrace the breathtaking views that the site offers.
The structure of the house is mainly composed of two thick concrete walls that extend through the landscape from north to south. The first wall runs north/south and guides guests into the house, leading them to views of Pioneer Peak. A second concrete wall runs perpendicular to the first wall and features faceted planes that orient towards a tall, narrow window found in the staircase and living room.
The entrance of this two-story house is on the upper floor. The main spaces include the living room volume which is flanked by two volumes containing the kitchen/dining room to the west and the bedroom/suite to the east.
The lower floor houses the hobby room, three guest suites, and a bunk bed room.
To maintain privacy, the house is almost completely opaque on the entrance side of the building except for a high strip of glass in the concrete and a corner window that offers a view to the north and east from the main bathroom. This design solution can be found in architecture projects where the client requests a certain level of discretion. The two different ceiling heights modulate the composition and aim to evoke the hierarchical structure of the surrounding mountains.
The palette of materials used internally is minimal and focuses on natural materials and finishes that bring the colors of the Montana landscape indoors. The choice of the Stuart Silk Architects studio falls on the predominant use of natural stone in contrast with refined furniture, luxury fabrics, silk carpets, and glass chandeliers that create a suggestive atmosphere.
Each floor is characterized by a ceiling made of cedar slats and a monolithic concrete floor with structural steel columns left exposed in the living room. The beautiful light in the house is ensured by floor-to-ceiling glass walls with unobstructed views of the alpine landscape and sky, and by a continuous band of skylights in the living room that allows soft light to penetrate the house from all four sides.
