Privacy, warmth and the desire to frame the mountain landscape led to a U-shaped plan made of rammed earth, with roofs that rise to bring in the beautiful horizon.
Designed to replace a crib that customers have loved for over 20 years, the brief was for a home that met the challenge of the seasons.
“The clients showed us which trees are important, where the best place for the sun is and where to find shelter from the wind,” says architect Rafe Maclean.
Using passive house thermal modeling during the developed design phase, with an airtight construction and hydronically heated concrete floors, the interior is naturally warm in winter and cool in summer.
The house slopes down a gentle east-west slope and consists of two adjoining wings: the west wing, containing bedrooms, is stepped back, while the neighbor extends north into the garden to catch the late afternoon sun. In between, a courtyard separates the sleeping and living areas, providing shelter and shade from the elements and creating a private outdoor room. Kitchen and dining areas open onto the north facing courtyard, with easy access to the garden.
But it’s the roofs, one floating above each wing, that create the spatial drama: twin planes presenting a low profile to the street, then rising gently to peaks at their northwest corners.
“Like raising your eyebrow at the sun,” notes Rafe.
Clay from Cardrona is used in the rammed earth walls, along with concrete for strength. It is a warm material with a rich tone and texture.
“The layering created during the casting can be seen,” says Rafe.
“It feels like you’ve cut a couch.”
The earthen walls contrast with the sharp edges of exposed structural steel and metal capping, before a row of clerestory windows separates the walls from the roof.
A gentle twist in the cedar-lined ceiling creates movement as the roofs tilt upward to capture sky and mountain vistas around the perimeter, a constant reminder of this majestic alpine landscape.
This is an excerpt from Cape to Bluff by Simon Devitt, Luke Scott and Andrea
Stevens, available now at bookstores and online at www.simondevitt.com