Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects designed this luxurious house with eco-friendly design details positioned alongside the pristine Gallatin River, just south of Big Sky, Montana. The interiors reflect an open and casual atmosphere, well-suited for the inhabitants who enjoy entertaining. The 3,400 square-foot dwelling is oriented on its site to take advantage of the natural setting, with sweeping views of the river. Large expanses of glass create a strong indoor-outdoor connection.

It also maintains good solar orientation to exploit solar heat gain during the winter while sheltering the house from the summer sun. A large roof overhang helps to shade fenestration in the living room during the summer months. During the winter, this home uses geothermal heat pumps and heavy insulation for warmth and energy efficiency. Montana has extreme weather patterns, so this home was specifically designed to withstand both extremes of the temperature spectrum.

The house is separated into the main living area and the guest wing. The guest area is designed to be shut off from the rest of the house when unoccupied and set back to a lower temperature when not in use. Additionally, the two wings of this dwelling bend to capture the best views of the river and create a protected entry courtyard.

Above: The wood in this project is mostly fir (for trim, soffits, and interior work); the only non-fir wood here is the siding, which is smooth-faced western red cedar. The windows are aluminum/wood, finished with a black matte powder coat.

What We Love: This luxurious house in Big Sky features stunning rooflines and expansive windows that take advantage of the views and natural light. The seamless indoor-outdoor connection creates a beautiful harmony in this home. The aesthetics are simple yet very appealing. There is plenty of inviting warmth and the natural setting just adds to the overall appeal of this beautiful home.

Tell Us: What do you think of the overall design of this sustainable home, what elements do you find most appealing? Please share your thoughts in the Comments!

Note: Have a look below for the “Related” tags for more amazing home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign from the portfolio of the architects of this project, Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects.

Above: This is a membrane roof, specifically a FiberTite system.

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Above: The aluminum-clad windows and lift-slide doors are by Austrian Style Woodworks.

Above: The flooring throughout the living spaces is concrete. The max interior ceiling height is 14’6″. The ceiling-mounted lights are Translite Sonoma Retro 16. 

Above: In the kitchen, the cabinets are vertical grain fir with a factory-applied natural finish and the countertops are black granite.

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Above: The ceiling is 1×4 tongue and groove Mixed Grain Fir. The specs for the steel beams are Surclean conditioner, EZ Black 55, and Acrylaq-1045 lacquer.

Above: The fireplace is a combination of concrete and metal panels, which are painted with a low-gloss black finish for a smooth, dark look. The soffit wood is fir, 4″ wide, and 1/4″ v shape. The soffit lighting is the Delta Star light from B-K Lighting.

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Photos: Steve Keating Photography