On
a lot filled with trees and lilac bushes in Bozeman’s North East neighborhood the idea to
build a contemporary home emphasizing sustainability and energy efficiency was
born. A small footprint would allow the
preservation of the existing hedge protecting it from the street and the mature
trees sheltering the rear yard from the elements and neighboring
structures. The infill lot created by
the subdivision of a yard belonging to an historic home next door would now be home
to this 1650 s.f. residence. Openings in
the hedge reveal a narrow front walk and a driveway leading to a single
detached garage. Further investigation leads one through French doors on the
ground level allowing access to the front and rear yards, extending living
spaces into the outdoors.
Programmatically
the house is organized to place more public and utility spaces on the ground
level while bedrooms and other private spaces are elevated within the
surrounding tree canopies on the second level. The second level deck projects
into the treetops and creates elevated outdoor private spaces. Simple volumes and flat roof forms reference
historic international style homes which can be found throughout the neighborhood
and allowed the height of the two story structure to be minimized. Custom steel shingles and brightly colored
window frames provide a reference to shingled walls and colorful accents of neighboring
historic structures.
A
sculptural steel stair provides an open connection between the common spaces on
the ground level and the private bedrooms, office and outdoor spaces on the
second level.
Structural
Insulated Panels were used for the exterior walls and structural system. This highly insulating envelope, combined
with passive ventilation and radiant heating, provides for a high level of
energy efficiency.
From
the street one notices the bright colors and simple form peaking out above the
hedgerow and among the trees. It rests
comfortably in a neighborhood that is an evolving combination of old and new,
adding to the ever changing eclectic mix of the surrounding neighborhood.