Set in a rural valley of ranches and orchards, New Caelifera is a response to the topography of the harsh yet beautiful landscape. Much like the grasshoppers that live on the site and which give the house its name, the building sits lightly on the meadow with a low profile.
Drawing from the owner’s love of the angular aesthetic of origami,We lifted the landscape and folded in the house. A steel shell sheltersa pavilion of glass and cedar, resultingin harmony between sculptural and tectonic elements.
Topography and views were drivers in the design process.We drew vectors corresponding to view corridors to dramatic peaks in the Sawtooth Mountains. These vectors formed the basis for the floor plan. The angles in the surrounding hills inspired the slope of the roof.
The entry façade temporarily obscures the views creating a heightened
sense of anticipation. The wood lined vestibule enhances the experience of crossing a portal into a new domain. The living space faces a wall of windows revealing light and views.
We imagined a day in the life of the family and their lifestyle. This resulted in a stage-like kitchen that is on display and connected yet also a room unto itself. We
built in spaces for discovery such as a hidden play space accessible by ladder.
The one bedroom cabin sleeps nine people in the winter and eleven in summer. Efficiency is accomplished by tucking beds into nooks, the study, the den, and a
suspended outdoor bed. Guests are accommodated with grace and privacy in a modest amount of space.
The experience of New Caelifera is evocative of inhabiting a found object still partially buried in a Methow Valley meadow. The effect varies based on season and time of day. In the afternoon the patina of the natural materials gives it an earthy appeal. After sunset it has the moodiness and dramatic lighting of a stage. It is an authentic space where everything is familiar yet original, down-to-earth yet glamorous, and industrial with a warm heart.
Material Used:
1. Cedar
2. Steel
3. Concrete
