This mountain modern retreat was designed as a family vacation home by Studio H Design, located in Manhattan, a town in Gallatin County, Montana. The homeowner spotted this 300-acre property with waterfront terrain and felt inspired to purchase and build his family dream home. This was a peaceful place to spend time with his three adult children and nature loving friends. The home appears to spring from the hillside, oriented within the glade where the Gallatin River forks.
The homeowners vision was to live harmoniously with the land. He commissioned Bozeman-based Studio H Design, whose principal philosophy is that both the land and client should dictate design direction. The homeowner spend two summers living in a tent-like structure on the property, surveying the land before deciding where he wished to have his home built. He knew where the prevailing winds were, the best views and the path of the sun.
A recessed area of the valley was selected to construct the 4,000 square foot main residence, in addition to two—1,200 square foot cabins. The architects removed a portion of the hillside, pushing 12 feet below grade to discreetly nestle the house into the landscape. The support spaces were designed into the hill-facing walls inside the dwelling, helping to provide insulation during the cold winters and cooling in the summer months.
Above: The cantilevered rooftops are covered in a mixture of vegetation based on the region. This includes a variety of switchblade grasses and other flora. This enables the dwellings roofing system to meld into the landscape. Additionally, the architect selected ipe wood for the siding, further allowing the home to camouflage into it’s environment. The wood was left raw so that it would naturally age to gray, further blending into it’s hillside setting.
What We Love: This mountain modern retreat lives in harmony with the land, seamlessly integrated into the hillside. The beautiful surrounding landscape only further enhances the majestic feel of this family vacation home. From the main residence to the guest cabins, overall this is a stunning display of architecture. We are loving how the river traverses through the property, simply breathtaking. When can we come for a visit?
Readers, please share with us in the comments below what you think of this home tour. Would this be your idea of a dream vacation home?
Above: The home features ten lift-and-slide glass panels, which retract into hidden pockets—source: Brombal. Each of the panels measures 8′ x 10′, a customized format transported from Italy.
Above: Outdoors, guests can enjoy dining al fresco, sit around the built-in fireplace or take a dip in the custom designed 12-foot-by-12-foot stainless steel plunge pool.
Above: The interior living spaces of the main residence features a rustic elegance, a collaboration between the homeowner and the architects.
Above: An entertainment area is the perfect spot for gathering with family and friends. The space features a dedicated screening room, a shuffleboard court and a built-in bar. Sliding glass doors opens the indoors to outside, further extending this living space.
Riversbend Cabins
Above: There are two cabins on the property, the east cabin features distant views of the Spanish Peaks to the west. The west cabin faces out to the east, highlighting mesmerizing views of the Bridger and Beartooth mountain ranges.
Photos: Gibeon Photography
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