A Creative Retreat at the Base of the Tetons
A series of undulating tectonic forms set among aspen groves near Wilson, Wyoming, define this creative retreat for a California-based couple. Located on a 35-acre property at the base of the Tetons, the site encompasses diverse ecosystems where mature forests transition into meadows and young pine stands. Designed as a nature-oriented refuge, the creative retreat provides a quiet environment for writing, creativity, and a deeper connection with the surrounding landscape.
Architecture Conceived as a Geological Remnant
The project consists of three separate structures—a main house, guest house, and writer’s studio—organized as simple box-like volumes carefully positioned across the site. The primary residence is conceived as a geological remnant, forming a striking monolithic and sculptural presence at the boundary between forest and open field. Meanwhile, the guest house and studio sit more discreetly within the trees, allowing the architecture to respond directly to its environment. Expansive views of the Grand Tetons, surrounding forests, wildlife, and meadows reinforce the retreat’s strong relationship with nature and place.
▎Rectilinear in plan, the main house appears to grab surrounding trees as anchors, sinking in the center, and pulling upward toward the sky at the corners. Working in concert with the landscape, this dynamic quality is further through the building’s charred shou sugi ban exterior, tugged and carved to create overhangs and openings. The entrance to the home is located where the structure reaches out over a lowland creek, the relationship revealed by a moment of transparency in the floor. The wood exterior wraps into the interior as light Atlantic cedar, which then dissolves into subtle plaster and floor-to-ceiling glass.
▎Each window frames a view of the prairie and Teton range beyond. An east-facing fireplace provides a counterpoint to the views, and an intimate courtyard allows southern light to penetrate the center of the home. In addition to the common kitchen, living, and dining spaces, the home includes three bedrooms, four bathrooms, a laundry, and an expansive mudroom for the client’s Irish wolfhounds. Wood, steel, bronze, custom-cast white concrete, bleached cedar, and oversized slabs of travertine and onyx define the material palette. Italian limestone is highlighted as floors in the primary bath and is also highlighted for the custom bathtub, which was water jet cut from a single block of limestone to create a striking monolithic and sculptural design element.
▎This makes the second time the interior designer has worked with the clients, the first instance at their home in Mill Valley. The client’s bohemian lifestyle and love of music, literature and the great outdoors were the inspiration behind the interior design. They love comfort, layers and texture, vintage pieces and a home that is inviting to family and friends and laid back enough for their dogs. Every surface has been elevated, with artisan details like the custom-designed, tattoo-inspired bas-relief concrete on the fireplace surround, hand-painted custom wallpaper murals, and the geometric motifs carried throughout the design. The earth-toned palette—with pops of mustard, blush and deep Burgundy—is punctuated by collectible pieces, vintage finds, and contemporary art.
▎The three-bedroom guest house is located steps away from the main house and features a similar carved-away entry and rectilinear form. The writer’s studio is positioned just beyond and provides a formal contrast to the other structures. A two-story sentinel surrounded by fledgling aspens, the structure includes a first-floor living space and a second-floor studio where the occupant can be immersed in contemplation among the tree canopies. Wood, steel, bronze, custom-cast white concrete, bleached cedar, and oversized slabs of travertine and onyx define the material palette. Italian limestone is highlighted as floors in the primary bath and is also highlighted in the custom bathtub, which was water jet cut from a single block of limestone to create a striking monolithic and sculptural design element.
