Residence for the EHA Family Trust

This residence is sited in a natural clearing in a huge grove
of aspen trees on a low lying lot situated between the Teton
Range and the Snake River in northwestern Wyoming. As
the site is dominated by jurisdictional wetlands; natural
water courses and man-made water features figure
prominently in the site design.

The house is based on a north-south, east-west orientation
to capture views and provide favorable southern exposure.
A building structure of regularly spaced bays, defined by
custom fabricated wood and steel columns and trusses,
aligns with this orientation. The material palette attempts
to reconcile the tension created between modern
architectural form with traditional reclaimed exterior siding
and weathered cor-ten corrugated roofing. The interior
materials place a refined palette of laminated bamboo,
polished concrete and Russian Birch millwork to a natural
setting.

The garage/family room and upstairs apartments are
housed in a traditional barn structure and connect to the
primary residence via an enclosed “floating” breezeway.
Traditional dovetailed logs are finished with cast glass
“chinking” to allow diffused light into the space by day and
to provide a lantern effect by night.

Energy conservation was a design mandate from the
inception of this project, set by the Owner. Care was
utilized to specify components that exceeded industry
standards for wall and ceiling insulation, infiltration and
glass performance as well as HVAC design.

Heating and cooling is handled by a ground-source heat
pump utilizing ground water at 45 degrees Fahrenheit year
round in an open-loop system. Interior finishes were
selected for their low VOC content, with all casework being
finished in an organic vegetable-based oil material.
Renewable bamboo is utilized throughout the house as well
as a ceiling material. Electrical consumption was reduced
by specifying LED technology in all of the public spaces and
high-output halogen light elsewhere.