At the end of an existing single lane unpaved road cut into a hillside near Juliaetta, Idaho, the clients wanted to create a live work space for their winery and vineyard preserving the most ideal exposure and soil for grape production. To accomplish this, we located two structures – one above a flood plain - called “the Bridge”, the other perched on a narrow basalt cliff overlooking a spawning pool on the Potlatch River –called “the Lookout”. Owner and guest quarters are housed in the Bridge structure where multiple uses (additional guest facilities, an small event space, storage, and studio) are housed in the Lookout structure.

The site challenges included: summer temperatures that can reach 110+degrees F, a healthy population of rattlesnakes and bull snakes, periodic river flooding (the flood plain site flooded twice during construction), and limited access for construction equipment. Additionally, the clients requested close proximity to the river and minimization of energy consumption and site disturbance.

The building was derived from these circumstances.

The Flood Plain House (living-guest quarters) is set approximately 12 feet above grade and minimizes ground disturbance by being supported on only four 8-inch thick concrete piers. The floor elevation was determined by hydrologist water shed analysis and is set above the 300-500 year flood event elevation. This ground separation also discouraged snake infestations. A 15-foot deep steel Howe truss system spans 80 feet at the center span with 32/16 foot balancing cantilevers at each end. The longer cantilever extends over the river while the other continues to a gangway that leads to the parking area. The steel bridge truss supports a wood lattice that shades conditioned space below and reduces calculated cooling loads by 20%. The precise shape and location of the structure were made to weave into an existing cottonwood grove.