Wilderness Ranch Studio

With growing children and more visitors, this family built a separate studio building  adjacent to their house several years after the main house was finished.  The new building was planned for music and larger gatherings, with a guest room and an exercise pool.  Along with a new storage shed, the studio was oriented to create a courtyard entry to the cluster of buildings.

The exterior reflected the materials of the original house, stucco and stained cedar siding.  However, corrugated metal roofs at the two porches, left unfinished to rust, and steel knee braces bring a different feeling to this later building.  One other notable difference was the use of insulated concrete forms for the walls.  In this system, foam blocks are stacked and filled with concrete cores, creating a highly insulated wall system.  In the interior, a high vaulted ceiling, supported by wood and steel exposed trusses, combined with stained and waxed concrete floors, give a simple, exposed nature to the space.  To maintain acoustic balance, sanded homasote panels were added to the upper walls to absorb sound.  The Endless Pool is in a separate room, with windows looking north to the Tetons, inspiring even the most dedicated swimmer to stop and reflect on the setting.