Big Timber Residence is a sole shelter on a 2000-acre Montana ranch along the river banks of Big Timber, Montana, designed by Hughes Umbanhowar Architects. The 3,800 square foot house is sited in a clearing within a grove of these trees that reveals a clear view of the distant mountain range known as the Crazies. The environs recall the unexploited American West of a century ago.

This river has the potential to dramatically flood its banks during late spring melt off in the mountains. As the first line of defense to this self imposed threat, the house sits on a 30” tall porous plinth lifting the finish floors well above the flood line. Other than the elevated driveway, the house will appear to float on the river as waters pass around and under the foundation. The house has been sited among spring fed ponds in the flood plain that provide year round water features when the river otherwise can slow to a trickle during drought cycles.

The house presents two distinct and separate facades on arrival, revealing itself after the visitor enters as two interlocking objects– one, a two-level glass wedge, the other a one story wooden bar. Joined together they form a “T” shape. A glass enclosed hall along the western side of the residence adds to the width of the wooden structure and recalls the scale and function of the shed covered walkways in former frontier towns.

Primary components: Steel Frame, Concrete foundation, metal roofing, native planted sod roof, readapted barn siding, ipe decking, locally quarried limestone floors, Duratherm mahogany windows, geothermal heating and cooling, led light fixtures, Bulthaup Kitchen

Photos: Gibeon Photography