Into the Woods

For the homeowners, living full-time in Miami – a city that’s been booming in recent years – is exciting, yet sometimes exhausting. With a deep appreciation for the outdoors, the young family needed a serene refuge to escape from city life. They found a dream spot in Teton Village, Wyoming, the home state of America’s iconic Yellowstone National Park. 

The main communal living areas and four bedrooms were strategically positioned on the upper floor to maximise views

Organised in two simple volumes that make an outdoor space in the back, the 260-square metre house is located on a slope – adjacent to a ski area – surrounded by mountain peaks and forests, with views of the Snake River Valley. “This house takes a light approach on the land and has a very restrained, refined approach to materiality,” says Eric Logan, partner at CLB. “The rules and rigour of the house drive the design.” During excavation, a boulder adjacent to the entry could not be moved. As a result, the team reoriented the configuration of the structure, which then became a driving force. Called ‘Caju’ as a nod to one of the owners’ countries of origin, the name of the house refers to a Brazilian fruit with an orange shell, similar to the home’s weathered Corten steel exterior. This material not only provides a backdrop for the natural surroundings but also contrasts beautifully with carved-out sections of larch. 

Both outside and inside, the architecture team used only steel, concrete and wood to shape a harmonious and honest palette that is robust, functional and distinct, “in an effort to make something enduring,” explains Logan. 

The main communal living areas and four bedrooms were strategically positioned on the upper floor to maximise views. Connected through a floating staircase – with a perforated stainless steel structure that acts both as a functional and a sculptural element – the lower level comprises a mudroom, gym and garage. “The goal for this project was to create something humble that was grounded in the principle of living simply,” says Andy Ankeny, partner at CLB. “It was to be nestled into the mountain environment with a rustic, durable shell.”

In the calming interior spaces where wood prevails on the walls and ceiling, many pieces were built in. “The architecture is the furniture,” the team says. Every element contributes to a unifying experience where simplicity and character meet, where the home itself almost becomes a piece of art. “It truly feels like a refuge,” says Ankeny. 

Embracing the existing site conditions, the house honours the majesty of the landscape through its respectful and poetic design where minimal aesthetics and sustainability features work in concert, in perfect harmony. A member of the owner’s family put it simply: “I never knew that you could feel architecture until stepping foot into this home.” 

Photography by Matthew Millman