CLB Architects: Inspired by Swiss mountain chalets and rooted in the vernacular form and materialityof the American Mountain West, Four Pines is a retreat for a Chicago-based family. The 9,090-square foot, seven-bedroom, seven-and-a-half-bathroom home capitalizes on Jackson Hole’s natural environmentwhile providing ample space for family and guests. The house is designed to complement the owner’sprivate art collection, including artists such as Richard Serra, Deborah Butterfield, Roy Lichtenstein, andPurvis Young.
Located in a dense neighborhood at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, the house is strategicallysited to maximize surrounding mountain views while retaining privacy. A simplegable form on a stoneplinth is seen on approach. Large window openings are screened with wood slats to provide seclusionfrom the neighbors and admit filtered light into interior spaces. Upon entry, a custom glass staircasecreates transparency and allows the client’s art to be the focal point, setting the stage for the experience ofthe home. Passing through the entry and the home’s gallery space, the west-facing volume employs a flatroof and an expansive wall of glass, adopting the feel of a modern pavilion.
The pavilion frames views ofthe ski resort and adjacent peaks.A carefully chosen, yet reductive, material palette lends a sense of simplicity and timelessness. Local greyquartzite mimics surrounding ranges and rock formations. The stone adds texture to the exterior andbreaks up the vertical cedar siding pattern. It also reappears on the columns and chimney that define thepublic spaces within the pavilion. Interior surfaces are clad in wood and plaster to engender warmth butnot to compete with the art. The formal proportions, material consistency, and painstaking craftsmanshipwere deliberately considered to enhance privacy, serenity, and a profound connection to its mountainsetting.
