Solid as a rock yet light and open in appearance, this house sits in the rugged landscape of the Wapiti Valley in Wyoming, USA. Architects Brett Nave and Lori Ryker of architects’ office studio.bna from Montana in the North West United States of America designed a building where the interior layout gave shape to the exterior form. They took inspiration from the rock formations, colours and shapes of the surrounding austere landscape.
The clients were not interested in the classic ranch-style wooden house which is typical of the region. Rather, they wanted a comfortable hideaway that interprets nature in the language of 21st century architecture. The result is a bright, open building with panoramic views of the great expanse of landscape. One’s view is framed not by the architecture but by the surrounding mountains, which draw the eye toward nearby Yellowstone National Park.
The open floor plan is sustained on the south side by an approx. 60-cm thick earth wall. The compacted mix of sand, cement and water gives the room a pleasant structure and mass. The natural look of the individual layers is enhanced by the warm tones of the earth.
Directly opposite, a stark contrast is provided by the transparent folding glass doors which open outwards, opening up the central part of the building toward the north-facing exterior. The doors consist of three systems, each of which can be fully opened and parked to the side to save space. The wide-opening façade further enhances the strong interaction between the interior and nature. This lends the living/dining area and sitting room with fireplace a very special significance in the home. The panoramic view of the stunning Wapiti Valley is all thanks to the folding glass doors from the market-leading system developer and manufacturer Solarlux. The project was realised by Solarlux’s local sales partner, NanaWall Systems, USA. Fixed windows were installed above and to the sides of the folding façade elements. The floor-to-ceiling glass façade ensures plenty of light penetrates the living area.
The architects have designed an extraordinary-looking sculptural home, the impact of which is reinforced by the incorporation of highly varied materials such as steel, glass, metal and wood. Whilst the use of colours, shades, textures and forms is impressive, the truly unique communion with nature is really only made possible by the flexible and convenient opening of the glass façade. This is what allows one to truly experience the vast landscape of the Wapiti Valley.
