GLASS TEEPEE

One day, a client unexpectedly called our office and said, “This is going to sound strange, but I want you to design a glass teepee. I’ll probably never build it, but I want to see what you would come up with.” Dubbe Moulder Architects eagerly accepted the challenge and crafted the design presented here.

With further guidance from the client, it became clear that the project would not be a full-blown house, but rather a smaller guesthouse located on the Teton River in Teton Valley, Idaho. After the initial brainstorming session, we realized that while the project was intriguing, it also posed some challenges—particularly because teepees do not have any vertical walls.

We moved forward, addressing this obstacle and creating a beautiful, livable space. Principal Chris Moulder started with a basic teepee form and covered it in glass instead of the traditional canvas. This space was designed to serve as the primary living area, encompassing the living room, dining room, and kitchen, along with a second-floor loft area. The bedroom and bathroom were planned to be in an adjoining box-like structure that would provide more privacy. The roof of the bedroom wing features observation decks, offering various levels for entertaining and enjoying the stunning landscape.

One of the central elements of Native American living is how communities often gather around a fire feature. To reflect this, DMA included a central fireplace inside the teepee, as well as an outdoor fire pit on the patio, creating a beautiful gathering place for family and friends.