T-shaped House In The Middle Of The Mountainous Landscape
When architecture studio Olson Kundig started working on this project they had two major things in mind: art and nature. They had to build this house on a cul-de-sac in Ketchum, Idaho. The plot is framed by the Bald Mountain on one side and the Dollar Mountain on the other which means it gets to enjoy panoramic and very beautiful views of the forested landscape and everything else.
The interior of the house is decorated with lots of contemporary pieces from the owner’s collection. That’s how this combination of focal points came to be. Now let’s talk about the house itself a bit more. It’s clad in steel and wood and has large glazed surfaces which help it establish a dialogue with the exterior.
The house has a T-shaped floor plan and is structured into two large volumes. The primary zone is composed of an entry foyer, an open plan kitchen, dining room and living area as well as two guest rooms situated below and two office spaces on the upper level. By comparison, the secondary volume is smaller and houses a vestibule and the master suite.
Aesthetically these areas are similar and complement each other in a seamless and natural manner. Of course, each individual space has its own unique features that make it stand out. For example, the black kitchen cabinets add a sophisticated touch to the entire social area. The private area has its own focal points, one being the freestanding tub placed in a glazed nook that offers expansive views of the entire surrounding area and the mountains in the distance.