In the Hill Country of central Texas, the Backwards Sky Ranch House straddles the boundary between an open meadow to the south and the sharply carved bank of the Dry Frio River to the north. The living spaces are perched above and run parallel to the river, offering the owners uninterrupted access and views to the river valley.
Project name
Backwards Sky Ranch
Architecture firm
Clayton Korte
Location
Central Texas, USA
Principal architect
Brian Korte FAIA, Principal
Design team
Brian Korte FAIA, Principal. Camden Greenlee AIA, Architect/Design Lead. Javier Castro AIA, Architect. Josh Nieves, Project Manager. Brandon Tharp, Design Team
Built area
exterior space (3,284 sft²) rivals interior space (4,427 ft²)
Collaborators
Scott Williamson, P.E. (Structural Engineer), Studio Outside (Landscape Design), Acton Partners (Envelope Consultant), InTEC of San Antonio (Geotechnical Engineer)
James Trahan AIA’s Slope House located in Sunnyslope, Arizona started out as an unassuming 1964 cinder block ranch perched on a hillside at the top of Central Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona. The home was marketed for its “gazillion dollar views” when it caught James’ attention in 2002; this proved to be true each day at dawn.
Architecture firm
180 Degrees Design + Build
Location
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Photography
Matt Winquist
Principal architect
James Trahan, John Anderson, Troy Vincent
Design team
James Trahan AIA
Environmental & MEP
180 Degrees Design, Inc
Lighting
180 Degrees Design, Inc
Supervision
180 Degrees Design, Inc
Construction
180 Degrees Design, Inc
Material
Concrete, Wood, Glass, Steel
Typology
Residential › House
Skylab Architecture designs the N M Bodecker Foundation in Portland, Oregon. The foundation provides creative communities with a dynamic mix of in-person spaces for workshops, gathering, and collaboration.
Project name
The N M Bodecker Foundation
Architecture firm
Skylab Architecture
Location
Portland, Oregon, USA
Photography
Jeremy Bitterman, Stephen Miller (video)
Design team
Jeff Kovel (Design Director), Brent Grubb (Project Manager), Jamin AAsum (Project Architect), Kyle Norman (Project Architect), Dustin Furseth (Project Architect), Amy DeVall (Interior Designer), Stephen Miller (Design & Visualization)
Collaborators
Geo Design (Geotechnical Engineer), Coral Sound Inc. (Acoustical Engineer), Ambient Automation (AV), The Facade Group (Building Envelope & Waterproofing), Michael Cronin Acoustic (Recording Room Consultant), Dream Land Skateparks (Skatepark Consultant)
Interior design
Skylab Architecture
Civil engineer
Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc.
Structural engineer
Structural Engineering (SCE)
Environmental & MEP
Interface Engineering
Lighting
Lighting Workshop
Construction
Skylab Construction Co.
Riverbend is a family retreat located on the east bank of the Snake River adjacent to Grand Teton National Park. The house nestles against the river, which forms the north and west perimeter of an 18-acre wooded property that features dramatic mountain views to the north through a veil of cottonwood trees. A careful study of the relationship betwee...
Project name
Riverbend Residence
Architecture firm
CLB Architects
Location
Jackson, Wyoming, USA
Photography
Matthew Millman (fall), Tom Harris (winter)
Principal architect
Eric Logan, Kevin Burke, Bryan James
Design team
Eric Logan, AIA, Principal. Kevin Burke, AIA, Principal. Bryan James, AIA, Project Manager. Leo Naegele, Project Coordinator. Libby Erker, Interiors
Interior design
CLB Architects
Civil engineer
Nelson Engineering
Structural engineer
KL&A, Inc.
Environmental & MEP
JM Engineers PLLC (Mechanical Engineer), Helius Lighting Group (Electrical Engineer), Jorgensen Geotechnical, LLC (Geotechnical Engineer)
Landscape
Hershberger Design
Lighting
Helius Lighting Group
Construction
Peak Builders
Typology
Residential › House
Perched at 8,100 feet on the side of a mountain in Montana’s Madison Range, the massing and materials of this house are derived from the powerful landscape. The exterior of the house is a composition of Core-ten steel and board-formed concrete, materials which metaphorically and directly embrace the harsh realities of the site and its immediate env...
Project name
Yellowstone Residence
Architecture firm
Stuart Silk Architects
Location
Big Sky, Montana, USA
Photography
Aaron Leitz (spring views); Whitney Kamman (winter views)
Principal architect
Stuart Silk
Design team
Stuart Silk, Julianne Shaw, Kim Pham
Collaborators
Brandner Design, Inc. (Decorative Steel Fabrication), Scott Chico Raskey (Custom Glass Design)
Interior design
Stuart Silk Architects
Landscape
Land Design, Inc
Lighting
Brian Hood Lighting Design
Construction
Charter Construction
Material
Core-ten steel, Board-formed concrete, brick, wood, glass
Typology
Residential › House
High Desert Residence is a Central Oregon home that finds a sense of calm and refuge in the balance between landscape and sky. This 4,300-square-foot, four-bedroom house is designed as a regular weekend sanctuary for an active couple, and a getaway for their extended family – a place where everyone can gather and be together, with a balance between...
Project name
High Desert Residence
Architecture firm
Hacker Architects
Location
Bend, Oregon, USA
Photography
Jeremy Bittermann
Design team
Corey Martin (Design Principal), Jennie Fowler (Interior Design Principal), Nic Smith (Design Director), Jeff Ernst (Project Architect)
Collaborators
Corey Martin –Design Principal Jennie Fowler – Interior Design Principal Nic Smith – Design Director Jeff Ernst – Project Architect
Interior design
Hacker Design Team
Structural engineer
Madden & Baughman
Tools used
Wood, Glass, Steel
Construction
Kirby Nagelhout Construction
Typology
Residential › House
Located at the eastern edge of the Texas Hill Country, this private wine cave serves as a destination along a secluded bend of the Blanco River. Excavated into the north face of a solid limestone hillside, this shotcrete lined tube is protected on the east and west by tall oak and elm trees, allowing it to nearly disappear within the native landsca...
Project name
Hill Country Wine Cave
Architecture firm
Clayton Korte
Location
Texas Hill Country, Texas, USA
Principal architect
Brian Korte, FAIA, Partner. Camden Greenlee. Brandon Tharp
Collaborators
Dash Concrete (Concrete subcontractor), Fasone and Associates (Specialty steel fabrication), : Cactus Max Fine Metal Artwork (Art metalwork)
Civil engineer
Intelligent Engineering Services
Structural engineer
SSG Structural Engineers
Environmental & MEP
Positive Energy
Construction
Monday Builders
Material
Board-formed concrete, Wood-clad, Rocky Mountain Hardware, Glass
Typology
Residential › Wine Cave
Tucked away in Los Altos Hills, the aptly named Round House is a geometrically unique structure; one of a few similarly shaped homes built in California in the 60s. The clients fell in love with this quirky circular house and initially planned a modest remodel.
Architecture firm
Feldman Architecture
Location
Los Altos Hills, California, United States
Collaborators
Romig Engineers Inc (Geotechnical Consultant), Urban Tree Management (Arborist)
Civil engineer
Lea + Braze Engineering Inc
Structural engineer
BKG Structural Engineers
Landscape
Variegated Green
Construction
Baywest Builders
Typology
Residential › House
