This spectacular family ski retreat as designed to withstand a harsh mountain environment by Olson Kundig Architects, located in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. The residence is elevated ten feet above grade, the main level provides a sense of occupying the tree canopy while also floating above snowdrifts and flood prone lake shore.
The house is designed as two separate structures connected by an 80-foot-long glass-walled bridge. The larger of the wings contains the living and dining area, master bedroom, and two guest rooms. The smaller wing, or kids’ wing, has four rooms furnished with enough beds to accommodate the family’s children, their friends and leaves room for future grandchildren.
The bridge not only creates privacy between the two wings but also weaves through a grouping of evergreens. By spreading out the house across the site trees were preserved but views were also maximized. On one side the floor-to-ceiling windows overlook a mountain lake stretching across the foot of the property; on the other side is a forest of firs, hemlocks and aspens.
A custom designed horizontal shutter system creates privacy and also protects upholstery and art from harsh snow glare. With simple crank and switch controls the façade can transform from glass clad to semi-exposed with raw-edged Douglas fir louvers, to completely protected with weathered steel.
Due to the nature of the deep soft soil on the lake shore and the home’s location in a high seismic risk zone, the house is supported on a continuous 2-foot thick raft slab on densified soil, created by a series of vibro-densified rock columns that extend 60 to 68 feet deep into the ground. The raft slab “floats” on the densified soil which allows the house to remain stationary during a seismic event that would cause un-densified soil to slide into the lake.
What We Love: This amazing ski retreat offers its inhabitants a sleek aesthetic from exterior to interior. Surrounded by a rugged mountainous landscape, the design of this dwelling maximizes its views. The light-filled interiors features designer furnishings and beautiful materials and finishes. Overall a fantastic design that is well connected to its site… Readers, what do you think of the design of this home? Could you live here?
Note: Have a below for the “Related” tags for some other incredible home tours that we have featured from the award-winning portfolio of Olson Kundig Architects.
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A large two-sided board-formed concrete fireplace with custom enclosure doors separates the main living and dining space from a more intimate media room. The sliding fireplace doors allow the owner to tune the size of the fireplace opening in the smaller setting of the media room. The ground level includes a garage, screened terrace and ski room.
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Photos: Benjamin Benschneider
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