This bespoke dwelling is simple, authentic, and elegantly detailed.

 

Just three miles north of Sun Valley, Idaho, the idyllic Stonegate residence is situated in a rare and highly sought-after location. The home (“Three Barns”) sits at the convergence of four visible mountain ranges located at varying distances, all visible from the site. It appears to nestle into the gently sloping terrain that unfolds from the foothills to the east. The home, formed by three gable-roofed structures, connected with steel and glass breezeways, allows large drifts of native plantings to appear to continue uninterrupted through the house. The setting of the structures creates a sense of harmony with the surrounding landscape and creates a powerful, and unforgettable sense of place. As residents pass through the breezeway, they have a sense of walking through the drifts of meadow grasses as they move from one space to the next. 

 

From a distance, the arrangement of the barn-like forms leaves the impression that the buildings have been casually strewn across the site. Upon closer inspection, it appears that the house has settled-in comfortably with the terrain, and the living spaces unfold as a series of precisely choreographed moments where aspects of the surrounding landscapes are brought into focus. 

The three structures each support an independent, yet connected, element of daily life – one for play, another for daily life, and the third for sanctuary and sleep. They can function as a series of intimate spaces on their own or as a contiguous living environment. This adaptability allows the house to be used for entertainment and larger gatherings, while also retaining a feeling of intimacy for daily use.

 

The design of the house draws its identity from the land – weaving the history and building culture of southern Idaho with a contemporary reinterpretation that distinguishes it as an elevated work of architecture.  The physical palette is made up of local materials that have been shaped by time. They require little to no maintenance, while retaining a sense of authenticity and timelessness. Each of the three ‘barns” were constructed of a robust heavy timber frame, which creates a structural rhythm. Reclaimed wood paneling clads the interior, and barn-wood siding from the Camas Prairie is given new life on the exterior walls. Two chimneys constructed of local stone echo the rock outcroppings of the Pioneer and Boulder mountains. Each of the home’s ample glass windows and doors are carefully oriented to frame views of the surrounding mountains, bringing the landscape into direct dialogue with the house from near or far.

 

The interior of the home is furnished with a combination of vintage antiques and custom one-of-a-kind pieces, each specifically curated for its exact location.