BAR-B-BAR RESIDENCE
A contemporary design direction with a twist on vernacular architecture
Jackson Hole, Wyoming • 4,982 sq. ft.
Design Team: Chris Moulder, AIA; Brian Gleason, Kevin Noble, Ben Weisbeck
Our clients, from San Jose, California, had been coming to Jackson Hole with their family for many years as they are avid skiers and outdoor enthusiasts. Initially, they were looking for an existing home to be a retreat for their growing family. Unable to find a property that suited them during their search, they decided to buy an open lot and design a home customized to their specific needs.
They found a 1.75 acre property located north of the town of Jackson: a flat lot covered by existing natural grasses and sagebrush with uninterrupted views on the Teton range directly to the west and north. The property is bordered by a large swath of land to the south, dedicated as open space and designated a deer and elk migration corridor.
The design program called for a home to comfortably accommodate four different family units with and without children. Also desired was a master bedroom suite separated from the other bedrooms which would also have a private office. The great room was to be an open plan with living, dining, and kitchen spaces open to each other. Other programmatic spaces included a breakfast nook, a workout room, an ample mudroom, covered porches, decks and patio along with a 3-car garage. Finally, the owners wished for an outdoor pavilion for dining opportunities during pleasant weather.
Because a 19’ height restriction limited the design to one story and there were so many opportunities to organize view corridors, we decided to identify the significant view axis, place the driveway on the property where views don’t exist and then pull the plan apart to give the illusion that the house was built and connected over time. The design direction was an entirely contemporary one. The owners appreciated the history of Jackson Hole and we wanted to respect it, but they aimed for a home that had a more contemporary twist on the vernacular architecture already present in the valley.
Historically, the structures built in the Jackson Hole area were designed out of need and were used in a very practical way. They were created to be efficient, designed to work with the weather and built using materials immediately resourced from the land or surrounding area.
Privacy was key to the success of the plan. Two separate bedroom wings exist on opposite ends of the house. The master suite has views of the Grand, and the entire west range, while the three other bedrooms face Sleeping Indian and Jackson Peak to the east. Outdoor spaces were as important design considerations as indoor spaces so each bedroom has their own covered porch and other open decks and covered patios surround the house. Sliding doors from the dining room access a large patio providing outdoor dining, lounging area, and gathering space around a fire pit on the secluded south side of the home.
The exterior materials used were very textural: stone, re-sawn cedar, rough-sawn timbers and beams, taper-sawn shingles, and metal standing seam roofing all working together to create a careful composition, settling the eye and relaxing the mind.
The interiors were designed to complement the exterior with the use of weathered wood, stone, and calming shades of gray taken from the landscape. The completed home is a tranquil sanctuary with a contemporary touch that still respects and blends with its surroundings.