This modern lake house retreat was designed by Olson Kundig Architects, located on a sprawling property in Whitefish, a resort town in the Rocky Mountains of northwest Montana. The vacation home was created for a young family to escape city living and spend time in the great outdoors building lasting memories,
The property was originally used as a campsite by the family, now a sustainable dwelling nestled between a Ponderosa pine forest and a lake. This getaway pad is called Dragonfly, whose name is inspired by the way the insect melds with its natural habitat while sitting lightly on the land.
DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT Olson Kundig CONTRACTOR Bear Mountain Builders LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT White Cloud Design
At 6,500 square feet, this home’s materiality helps it fold into the landscape. Exterior siding of reclaimed barn wood will silver as it weathers, weaving the home into the forest. The center of the home is the open-plan living and dining area, which has double-height guillotine window walls on either side.
From afar, this transparency allows for views through the dwelling to the lake beyond. When both window walls are open, the effect is of a single plinth floating above the forest floor. Native plantings grow up to the home’s edges, and a screened porch on the south end opens to a sheltered deck. These varying degrees of enclosure enable the family to connect with nature throughout the seasons.
A longtime vacation spot for the family, who camped there before their home was built, the home was designed to maintain a sense of natural discovery the family enjoyed when spending time on the land. The site plan is organized around a path leading through the forest and down to the lake.
From the driveway, a gravel path leads across a meadow to the home’s entrance, then winds around the house and down the hill to the lake. Along the way, a constellation of outdoor spaces including covered decks, a fire pit, and a hot pool nestled into the hillside chart a path of discovery from house to lake.
What We Love: This modern lake house retreat offers a family a spectacular home to enjoy indoor-outdoor living surrounded by nature. Durable and low-maintenance materials will help this home to stand the test of time, which is perfect for a vacation home. We are loving how this home opens to the elements, bringing in natural airflow while also providing a wonderful indoor-outdoor connection that is ideal in this tranquil lakeside setting.
Tell Us: What details do you find most interesting in the design of this dwelling? Would this be your idea of the perfect escape? Let us know in the Comments below!
Note: Take a look at a couple of other fascinating home tours that we have showcased here on One Kindesign in the state of Montana: This breathtaking Rocky Mountain hideaway is an absolute dream house and Jaw-dropping luxury mountain chalet in Montana hovers above the pines.
This modern lake house retreat has sustainable design features including retractable window walls sourced from Dynamic Architectural Windows & Doors, maximizing natural ventilation. A large overhanging roof keeps this home cool during the summer months. Additionally, the exterior facade has reclaimed wood siding, and the landscape is filled with native plants and green roofs.
PHOTOGRAPHER Nic Lehoux
0 comments