TETON VALLEY BARNDOMINIUM

When our clients discovered two parcels of land in Teton Valley, Idaho, with meandering river channels, they immediately fell in love with the setting and decided to acquire the properties. The family enjoys spending time outdoors and is passionate about fly-fishing and advocating for the preservation of healthy trout habitats.

The ultimate goal of the project is to create a compound of structures. The first phase involves building a full-time caretaker’s residence, which will include storage for heavy equipment and workshop space on the south parcel. This structure, often referred to as a “barndominium,” combines living space with a larger area designed for barn, workshop, or shed use. Principal Chris Moulder has been designing this type of structure for many years, even before the term became popular. For this project, he designed a building with a small caretaker’s apartment on the first floor, adjacent to four bays designated for shop and vehicle storage. The second floor is a larger guest apartment with a living room, kitchen, and two bedrooms.

Moulder’s designs draw inspiration from vernacular forms, reflecting his belief that the local harsh environment significantly influences building design. The architecture will have a traditional style, characterized by shallow-pitched porch roofs and gable dormers. The roof will include lightning rods atop a Boston ridge vent. The exterior will feature square-faced logs with vertical shiplap cedar siding in the gable ends, and horizontal beveled cedar siding applied to the second-floor living unit.

The second phase of the project will involve constructing a small main residence on the south parcel for the family to live in while the main house is built on the north parcel. This phase will also include additional guest residences and a fabrication shop for various projects such as boat production and car restoration.

This is a significant project with several phases, and ultimately, the clients intend to make this property their main residence. Located in a beautiful part of the valley, they will be able to live comfortably, enjoy the stunning surroundings with friends and family, and have ample space to pursue their hobbies.