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Cushing Terrell, in partnership with Mindful Designs, has crafted this show-stopping mountain modern home perched above the Valley in Northwestern Montana. A narrow and unassuming gravel drive exits a manicured mountain resort community, providing access to 80+ acres of pristine former timber land.
The setting is unmatched, with pocketed views up and down the slope as well as sweeping vistas that take in a nearby lake, the distant mountains, and a picturesque valley. The owners’ request for such a special site was humble: a place for family, for escape, and with minimal impact on its surroundings.
Given the setting and remote access, site selection and design for the new 3,500-square-foot residence were conceptualized through the journey to and arrival at the home. After studying and staking out building corners, a small bench in the topography at a rock outcropping was identified as an ideal location for the home.
DESIGN DETAILS
ARCHITECTURE Cushing Terrell
BUILDER Mindful Designs
The access drive circles from well below, up and around to the front entry, while offering only small glimpses of the vistas afforded by this point of prominence. The architecture, seemingly nestled into this outcropping from the entry, reinforces this with solid forms giving way to a central “void” — a warmly lit portal inviting visitors in and through the home.
Upon entering, the balance flips. Floor-to-ceiling glass spanning the rear of the home invites sweeping views of the valley below. Cantilevered beyond the steep slope, there is both immersion into the surrounding treetops and a connection to the valley with direct views of the shoreline below. Structural clarity, sliding walls, and careful attention to detail mirror the calm of the lake below, serving to blur the line between inside and out.
While open in layout, a central fireplace, careful alignment of walls, and the placement of windows provide clear organization. At every turn, the home’s spaces are paired with unique views that reinforce their function. A breakfast nook takes in the eastern morning light, sheltered by a mountain drainage above for sequestered morning cups of coffee. A lower-level space focuses on family activities: games, movies, or gathering around the fire pit to take in the summer sunset.
As with the organization of the home, the approach to stewardship and the natural setting was equally holistic. At the most fundamental level, the home’s physical footprint is intentionally small to avoid disturbing the natural flora and fauna.
Manicured landscaping is kept to a minimum, while the majority of the disturbed soils were carefully restored, both settings using planting materials native to the site. The use of board-formed concrete acts as an extension of native rock outcroppings, while COR-TEN steel and Douglas fir tie into the forest and its warm hues with just enough contrast to announce the home upon arrival.
The materials feel like part of the natural setting in both winter and summer while providing long-term durability with minimal ongoing maintenance. Finally, the home focuses on reducing its energy footprint through a high-performance building envelope, triple-pane windows, and a closed-loop ground-source heat pump system.
An incredibly articulate mass of board formed concrete paired with hand-oxidized core-ten steel exudes modernity, austerity, and elegance. Interior spaces feature durable tile floors and hardwood ceilings, illuminated by creative, inspiring lighting.
What We Love About This Home
We love how the architecture essentially disappears into its setting, where the weathered COR-TEN steel, board-formed concrete, and Douglas fir don’t just complement the landscape, they feel like they grew out of it. The decision to keep the entry deliberately restrained, then reveal those sweeping valley and lake views all at once upon entering, is just stunning. Overall, what makes this home truly special is that its sustainability is just as considered as its design, from the triple-pane windows to the ground-source heat pump and carefully restored native plantings.
Tell Us: What element of this Northwestern Montana home speaks to you most — the dramatic material palette, the panoramic views, or the way it seems to emerge naturally from the rocky outcropping? Let us know in the Comments below; we enjoy reading your feedback!
Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other amazing home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign in the state of Montana: A modern-rustic Montana home features peaceful views of Whitefish Lake and Tour this warm and inviting lake house overlooking Flathead Lake, Montana.
Photos: Courtesy of Cushing Terrell
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