Prospect Studio clads remote Wyoming house in timber and weathering steel
A mix of earthy and industrial materials form the Alta North Residence, which was designed by US firm Prospect Studio to embrace its rural Wyoming setting and embody a sense of unity "between people and the landscape they inhabit".
Built on the edge of a national forest, the house is located in Alta, a remote community on the state's western border. It sits about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from Jackson, the popular ski town.
Designed to be "both visually arresting and deeply rooted in its surroundings", the house serves as a natural retreat for a family of five from Missouri. The dwelling totals 4,136 square feet (384 square metres).
The project involved a close collaboration between the client and the Wyoming architecture firm Prospect Studio, which was co-founded by John Carney, a former partner of Carney Logan Burke (now CLB Architects).
"The client, enamored with Phillip Johnson's signature approach to transparency, called and asked how to create a warm, welcoming glass house in the midst of an unforgiving Wyoming climate," the studio said.
"This intellectual query sparked interest from our team and set the stage for a collaborative design process that defied convention."
The studio started the design process by exploring iterations of glass structures suited to the region's climate, which includes heavy winter snowfall. It closely considered how the home would sit on the land and relate to nearby wetlands.
The project began in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, when construction costs surged and "posed significant challenges to the budget and timeline".
These conditions forced the team to be resourceful at every turn, from sourcing materials to optimising interior space.
Ultimately, for the main house, the team conceived a low-lying, bent bar with a flat, overhanging roof. Set off to the side is a box-shaped garage.
A wooden boardwalk runs between the two structures and serves as an "organising datum".
The layout mimics the gentle curves of a nearby creek while also alluding to the area's historic homesteads, made up of multiple buildings.
Exterior walls are a mix of concrete, Corten steel, reclaimed timber and Capolavoro stone. Soffits are lined with cedar.
"Cladding selections were chosen for their increased durability, lower maintenance and natural colour palette," the team said.
A recessed entrance provides shelter during inclement weather. Inside, there is a central living space flanked by two wings. One wing contains a primary suite, while the other encompasses a "train-car" bunk room, three guest suites and a cosy den.
Similar to the exterior, the interior features a mix of earthy and industrial finishes, ranging from walnut, cedar and stone to concrete and metal. Floor-to-ceiling glass offers immersive views of the landscape.
The main living area has an open-plan kitchen, dining area and lounge space. Curtain walls line two sides of the room – an element inspired by collages made by Mies van der Rohe in the 1930s, while designing a house in Jackson that was never built.
The social area is separated from the wings by board-formed concrete dividers. Functional elements were integrated into the dividers, such as a kitchen pantry, fireplace and pocket bar.
In the primary suite, there is a live-edge walnut desk and lounge seating oriented toward views of the wetlands. A pass-through closet leads to the bathroom, where the team incorporated a vanity set against a large window.
The home has a simple outdoor patio with a fire pit, along with a rooftop "viewing terrace" atop the garage that is fitted with lounge furniture and a hot tub.
Overall, the project serves as an example of a "destination home that epitomises personal style, complements its environment, and is materially and economically resourceful".
"Alta North is a statement of unity between creativity and context, between people and the landscape they inhabit," the team said.
Other projects in Wyoming in include a dwelling in Alta by Lever Architecture that is wrapped in weathering steel and accoya wood, and a Teton Village house by CLB Architects that takes cues from Swiss chalets and the local vernacular.
The photography is by Tom Harris.
Project credits:
Architect: Prospect Studio
Architecture team: Carl Kohut (project architect), Matt Thackray (principal)
Interior design: Laurie Demetrio Interiors
General contractor: New West Building Company
Landscape architect: BYLA
MEP: Energy 1
Structural engineer: KL&A
Civil engineer: Nelson Engineering
Lighting designer: Adaptive Lighting
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