Ridge Modern

The original home on this stunning wooded lot overlooking the Slate River valley was built in 1970. Its highly organic form features a circular floor plan centered on a massive river rock fireplace. It was designed and built by an artist and her students, who came from Chicago during summers to construct it using locally sourced materials.

Passed down in the family, the owners seek to preserve this unique structure while building a new four seasons home adjacent to it. The rectilinear forms and clean, modern aesthetic of the new home contrast and complement the organic original home.

To take advantage of sweeping views over the Slate River, the home stretches parallel to the cliff edge, offering stunning views to the river below and across the valley to Happy Chutes. An upper-level deck runs the length of the home, extending the living spaces outdoors. Low-slung roofs gently follow the contours of the landscape, maintaining harmony with the original structure.

With deliberate intent to defer to the mountain landscape and respect the modest scale of the original home, the entry elevation is one level above grade. Inside, an open stairwell descends to a great room anchored by a stone-faced retaining wall and bathed in natural light from glazing above. On the lower level, a generous sauna and three bedrooms receive prime views to the west.

The new home features expansive spaces for gathering as well as cozy areas for rest, making it an ideal family retreat for years to come. Sustainable building techniques and materials have been incorporated to ensure maximum comfort and efficiency.