Stone Cladding Options

Stone has been used throughout history on buildings of many styles as a cladding material.  Until relatively recent times it was used for structural applications in foundations and wall construction. In modern construction, stone is used primarily as a cladding option to cover less attractive structural substrates. Stacked stone isn’t a good structural material.  It can support a lot of weight, but because it is difficult to reinforce with steel, it is notoriously bad at surviving earthquake events, and thus doesn’t meet the strict requirements that architects must meet in modern building codes.

Stone accents on a Grand Canyon ranger station help give the building a bold appearance.

Architects use stone on building exteriors to create a sense of permanence and solidity. Drawing from the historical precedent of stacked stone building foundations, stone veneer is often used around the base of a building to visually anchor it to the land. Stone is also commonly used on fireplaces, chimneys, column bases, planters, landscape elements and even as an interior wall finish.

Stone cladding (also called stone veneer) is available in many forms. Many historic and modern style buildings use cut stone slabs as a wall finish material. Similar to the slabs used for making counter-tops, this type of stone cladding is used to create a refined look with clean, straight lines. In the nature themed mountain style homes we design at Hendricks Architecture, stone veneer is used in a more rustic application. Stacked stone masonry fireplaces, foundations, column bases, and landscape features add an organic aesthetic and help buildings blend in with their surroundings.

Stacked stone foundation

The types of stacked stone masonry commonly used on mountain homes are available in three basic forms, all of which have advantages and disadvantages. Here is an overview of the three options:

Thick stone veneer is the traditional and time tested stacked stone application, and uses real stones that are cut or broken to be 4″ – 6″ thick. Applied over concrete, masonry, or wood substrates, thick stone veneer is the most realistic looking, but is also the most expensive. Because it is heavy, thick stone is costly to transport, handle, install and support. Substantial structure is required to support stone installations and keep them from moving or failing over time, and this accounts for a good portion of the cost. Thick stone masonry allows individual stones to be offset horizontally, creating a more natural look that adds rustic appeal. It is also the best material to use if a true dry stack look is desired.

Thick stone veneer on a bus stop.

Thin stone veneer also utilizes real stone, but minimizes the weight by cutting the individual stones to a thickness of ¾” to 1 ½”. A quality installation of thin stone veneer will resemble a thick stone installation (it’s the same basic material), but this type of stone doesn’t allow for the horizontal relief that can be achieved with thick stone, and thus shadows and perceived textures are not the same. Thin stone looks more refined and less organic. This type of stone has the highest material cost, but ends up being approximately 15% less expensive installed cost than thick veneer because of savings in structural costs, transportation, handling and installation labor.

Thin stone veneer piers on a home under construction.

Thin stone comes with specially made pieces that are “L” shaped to make corners appear as if full thickness veneer was used. We recommend using thin stone veneer on less visible applications and in locations where the cost to create the structure required for thick veneer is significant. Rooftop chimneys are a good place to use thin veneer, whereas a masonry fireplace that is right at eye level and already has the structure to support stone might be a better place for thicker stone.  Another option is to mix in 30% full  stone with 70% thin stone to achieve a more natural, textured application.

Full stone mixed in with thin stone to achieve more texture.

Another texture option is to place other masonry materials, such as bricks, into the mix.  This is an “Old World” application and is seen on many European structures, including in Tuscany, where stone and other materials were recycled from older buildings (even Roman ruins) or whatever was available.  Brick has also been mixed with stone, in a more refined way, in some homes of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Cultured stone is a manufactured product made of formed lightweight concrete that is stained or colored to look like stone. Depending on the brand, cultured stone can be in the form of individual stones or panels that are shaped to key together. Cultured stone is the lightest weight option, owing to the highly porous material from which it is made. Structural requirements to support it are minimal, but because it is so porous cultured stone absorbs and wicks water. It needs to be installed properly and placed over suitable substrates or it can lead to moisture problems and premature failure.

Cultured stone is the least expensive option, but is also the least convincing. Some brands look better than others, but no cultured stone I have seen looks or feels like real stone. Additionally, after several years cultured stone will begin to fade when exposed to sunlight.  Almost all manufacturers of cultured stone recommend that it not be installed below grade, and this can lead to installations that are awkward and unconvincing. Many applications of cultured stone leave the material hanging above the ground (and 6″ to 8″ above soil), giving the building the appearance of floating.

One of the problems with cultured stone - a cultured stone wall "floating" above a patio.

When any type of stone is used on foundations, window bays, or any application where the support structure is not an obvious part of the design (such as an arch or beam), it should engage with the ground. To be a valid architectural element, stone should appear to support the building instead of the building supporting the stone.

Natural stone is a beautiful material that can enhance the look and durability of most styles of architecture. As architects of mountain homes, we believe stone, and native stone in particular, is an important material to help a building harmonize with the landscape and appear to “grow from the land”.

Tom Russell, LEED AP and John Hendricks, AIA Architect

Hendricks Architecture specializes in the design of mountain style homes and cabins, often with a rugged, rustic appearance including the use of stone and timbers.  Most of the homes we’ve completed are in mountain resort areas throughout the West.  Visit our portfolio for examples of some of our recently completed custom projects.  If you are interested in a mountain home, or you have any other inquiries, please contact us.

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Mountain Chapel

We are designing a rustic mountain chapel for a family in conjunction with the design of their custom mountain home.  Tucked in a quiet corner of their property in the woods, it will be a place for them to escape the usual distractions and pray quietly, either alone or in a small group.

Rustic Mountain Chapel with Trusses

Several options were presented, with a few of them shown here.  Stone and wood are the main materials on the exterior and interior, along with rustic arched timber trusses, beams and/or rafter accents.  A central wood window with cross shaped mullions overlooks a spectacular rock outcropping.  Some of the options include window bench seats and clerestory windows.

Small Hobbit Chapel

Small Mountain Chapel with Window Seat

John Hendricks, Architect AIA

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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The Trend Towards Smaller Homes

As an architect specializing in residential design, I am finding more and more people are trending towards smaller homes.  The distressed economy has been leading this evolution, but there are other factors as well, including space efficiency, energy efficiency, sustainability, a return to quality, and long term value.

Many reduced financial portfolios simply cannot currently pay for large lodge homes.  One of the most popular questions I received before we revamped our website was, “Do you design anything less expensive?”  Cozy cabins and small cottages are now in much more demand.

Mountain Cabin

These smaller homes are demanding more efficient use of space, both visually and functionally.  Visually, a home can take advantage of the outdoors by strategically placing windows, doors, materials and landscaping in areas that can seamlessly bring the outside in, and the inside out.  Thoughtful design will make the interior rooms look bigger.  The outdoor “rooms” are also generally cheaper than indoor rooms.

In regards to function, as an example, I’m often asked to design bigger guest rooms.  Some questions I’ll ask are; how long will the guest be staying?  What will they be doing in there besides sleeping?  Can they do without a TV and desk?  Can queen sized beds be used instead of kings?

These questions may help turn a 16×16 room into a more cozy 10×10 room, thus saving 156 square feet per guest room.  Two smaller guest rooms saving 312 square feet, at say $300 per square foot, equals $93,600.  Would the costs be better placed elsewhere in rooms used more often?  The same could be said for having the guests share a bathroom.  Everybody of course has different opinions on this, but the point is architects need to ask these questions to help the home owners save on costs.

On some projects I have considered marine architecture, a great example of space efficiency. Anybody who has been on a well designed yacht can see efficiencies of space at work.  Every cubic foot of these boats is put to good use, whether it’s storage under the seats or cubbyholes above the beds.  Some of the marine concepts can be used in homes as well.

Small Mountain Home

Smaller homes are also more energy efficient and sustainable.  To put it simply, small homes save on energy costs by lowering your heating and cooling bills.  For more information on this please see our blog post on Energy Efficiency.  Smaller homes can also save materials, trees and transportation costs, among others.

Quality, not quantity, seems to be the choice of the new generation, if given a choice between the two.  A smaller home can save more room in the budget for thoughtful architecturally designed details, including coffered ceilings, custom built-ins, wood walls and trim, high end lighting fixtures and appliances, and quality curved windows.  One of the most rewarding projects I’ve designed was a small family chapel on a family’s property.  The exterior matched the rustic mountain style home, while the interior includes exposed beams, wood walls and ceilings, and custom curved windows.  Powder rooms are another example of improving the quality of small spaces at a low cost.

Quality homes also add value over some of the bigger homes.  Resale values are generally increased with better quality, energy efficiencies, etc.  For more information on value, please see our blog post on Good Architecture Adds Value to Your Home.

With today’s lower construction prices, more people today can afford custom designed homes to suit their own tastes.  If homeowners with smaller budgets can compromise on quantity of space, they can enjoy a higher quality home that will last for generations, instead of a spec home that may become quickly outdated.

John Hendricks, Architect AIA

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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Winter Construction in the Mountains

One of the primary challenges of winter construction in the mountains is timing and scheduling. If you are considering building a home in the mountains, or anywhere else in snow country, planning the start of your project to avoid outside work in the winter will save you money and construction time. That’s easy to say, but it is not uncommon for projects planned for spring starts to be delayed until late in the year because of such things as building department delays or funding challenges.

While it is not the ideal situation, building construction can still be done outside in the winter, even in areas with freezing temperatures and lots of snow. The best scenario for construction work to continue through the winter months is to have the roof on the building, the windows in, insulation done and enough interior work to keep crews busy through the coldest months.  For those not lucky enough to be in this situation, it is still possible to keep the project moving during the winter, but expect progress to be noticeably slower and costs to be higher.

A mountain home ready for some winter interior construction.

Timing construction projects to avoid working in (and sometimes on) the ground during winter is one of the most important scheduling issues. Foundation work is often not feasible in winter because of frozen ground, high groundwater levels, frost heaving, and the danger of concrete freezing before it is adequately cured. If you can’t get started early enough in the fall to get the foundation in and at least partially backfilled, it is advisable to wait until spring before breaking ground.

A building with a foundation completed before winter arrived.

Here are some things to consider that may help avoid having to do outside construction in the winter:

• Start design in the summer or early fall the year before you want to start building. Have a good idea of what you want before getting started, and submit for a building permit during the winter when the building department workload is light so you can have a permit in hand when the snow melts. Spring and early summer is the building department’s peak season, and often leads to sizable delays. Avoid the bottleneck and start early.
• If your project does get a late start, it may be more cost effective to get the foundation and floor framing done, and then seal and tarp everything for the winter. This will give you a good start in the spring, and the cost of construction loan interest early in the project may be less than the added cost of working through the winter.
• It may be less expensive to have more workers or pay overtime during the summer and fall to get the project enclosed than to be paying the extra costs for winter construction.

A home being built through the winter.

If it works out that your project will need to have framing or exterior envelope work done in the winter, it’s not the end of the world. Building professionals in snow country do it all the time, and some even claim to enjoy it. A few things to keep in mind if your project is being built in the winter:

• There will almost certainly be some days lost to weather. Bad weather is inevitable in the winter, and working outside is sometimes just not possible.
• Snow removal is an essential, and will most certainly cost you extra. Review your contract carefully and discuss it with your contractor so everyone is clear on responsibilities and expectations.
• Consider having the wall framing prefabricated. This is becoming more common and is a good alternative to framing outside in the winter.
• Workers and their tools are not as efficient when it’s cold, especially below freezing.
• Some materials require special storage and handling, or don’t work at all when it’s cold. Concrete products, paint, stucco, drywall mud and glues don’t like low temperatures.  Non-chloride chemical accelerators may be used to increase the rate of concrete strength gain, and insulated blankets and heaters can protect the concrete from freezing after it’s first poured.
• Masonry work requires tenting and heat if temperatures will be below freezing during or for a period after installation.
• Temporary heat will need to be provided for workers and to keep some materials warm
• Special care needs to be taken to store materials where they will stay dry and not be damaged or lost under snow.
• Installing materials that are wet or frozen can lead to shrinkage & moisture problems in the future.
• Roofing is difficult in the winter. If it looks like getting the finish roof on isn’t possible before the snow flies, it may make sense to dry in with a durable underlayment or ice and water shield that will last through the winter and keep things dry.
• If siding will be done in the winter, it is a good idea to have it prefinished so it is protected both on the ground and after it is installed.

A winter masonry tent.

One thing I have learned from many years of being in the architecture and home building business, including several winters building homes in the mountains, is that things might take longer than we think they will. If you are planning to build a home in snow country, start the process early and plan ahead to avoid starting construction late in the summer or fall. If things don’t go as planned and it is necessary for your project to continue through the winter, have realistic expectations and make sure to communicate with the contractor about what work is occurring, how it will be accomplished, and if it makes sense to do it in the winter. Most builders want to work through the winter, and tend to be stoic about the challenges it presents. There are definitely advantages to keeping the momentum of a project going, and often the best strategy is to keep working on aspects of the project that can be done efficiently in winter, and save the rest for spring.

Tom Russell, LEED AP and John Hendricks, Architect AIA, NCARB

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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Timber Frame vs. Timber Post and Beam Construction

Being an architect who designs heavy timber homes, I’ve found that there is a lot of confusion between timber frame vs. timber post and beam construction, even within the industry and among professionals. While there is some gray area in the distinction between them, there are real differences between these styles.

Before we delve into the differences, it should be noted that one characteristic of both timber frame and post and beam construction is the articulation of the skeleton of a building.  This is achieved by exposing timber or log components as an honest expression of the building frame, giving it a rugged, rustic appearance. When it is thoughtfully designed and carefully constructed, the beauty of timber construction becomes the primary visual element of a building, and additional ornamentation or decoration is unnecessary. Implicit in carefully crafted exposed timberwork is a respect for the material.  This has become a mainstay in true Mountain Style Architecture.

A Timber Frame Kitchen by Collin Beggs

Timber Framing

Timber Framing is a traditional form of wood construction that has origins in early furniture making, and can be traced back to early oriental architecture. Some timber frame buildings erected during medieval times in old Europe are still standing, a testament to the integrity and longevity of this building system.

Timber Frame Bracket

True timber frames rely on tight fitting joinery, the integrity of the materials, and critical geometry to create a self supporting structure.  Because mechanical fasteners were not readily available and had to be hand made until relatively modern times, timber frames were (and still are) held together using wood pegs or wedges. By driving pegs into slightly misaligned holes in mating frame elements, timber framers are able to draw parts together to create surprisingly stiff connections. The real beauty of timber frame joints is often what you don’t see – they tend to be intricate hidden surfaces designed to lock together inside the members.  The New England Barn Company has a great pictorial glossary on timber frame joints.  Timber pegs are usually critical structural links, and hence are made of robust wood species like oak, ash, or maple. Pegs are usually exposed and made prominent to emphasize their importance in the system.

Timber Frame homes can be fun!

Timber framing is a specialty craft that requires careful joinery, specialty tools, and skilled, patient carpenters. Some purist practitioners of timber framing use only hand tools out of respect for the craft tradition. Timber framing tends to be more expensive than timber post and beam construction, though some of the added cost is offset by the fact that a well designed timber frame doesn’t need to rely on shear walls or infill framing to achieve lateral stability.

A Timber Frame Den by Collin Beggs

If you interested in learning more about timber framing, Ted Benson has some excellent books on the subject.

In the Northwest, Timber Frames by Colin Beggs is a premier builder of timber frame homes.  Residing in Sandpoint, Idaho,  Collin is a humble young craftsman with extensive timber framing experience, and will be speaking at the Timber Framers Guild Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York this November.  His topic is “Rampant Evangelism to Expedite the Evolution of Timber Framers into Master Builders”.  Collin notes, “The biggest difference that I find between Timber Framing and conventional construction is the pure joy that the craftsman and client receive when taking part in the process.  Timber Frame raisings are an epic event that define the relationship between community and it’s built environment.”

Timber Frames By Collin Beggs

Post and Beam Construction

Many mountain style homes employ some elements of wood timber construction, either as the main structural system or as accents in the form of trusses, roof supports, brackets, braces, or corbels. Post and beam construction often resembles timber framing, with the important distinction that post and beam construction utilizes mechanical fasteners and often steel plate connectors to join adjacent members together. These connectors may be hidden or exposed in various ways. Wood post and beam frames are rarely used as the only structural system for a building, usually they require additional structural elements like shear panels and infill framing to create a stable structure.

Post and Beam Entrance by Hendricks Architecture

Like timber framing, post and beam construction also requires skilled carpenters to create tight, well crafted joints, but fabrication and assembly tends to be less time consuming and intricate. It often takes a trained eye to distinguish between a true timber frame and well done post and beam construction.  Cost and the desire for authenticity are important factors in deciding which system to use. Timber post and beam construction shares with timber framing an appreciation for the beauty of wood and careful connections, but nods in deference when it comes to purity of tradition and level of craft.

A modern timber post and beam home interior

For more photographs of mountain style homes featuring post and beam construction, see our architectural projects.

There are many builders in the Sandpoint area who build quality heavy timber construction. If you are interested in creating a mountain style timber home, we would enjoy the opportunity to work with you on the design, and can recommend some excellent Contractors.  Hendricks Architecture specializes in the design of timber mountain style homes and cabins.  While it is not the only type of architecture we design, most of the homes we’ve completed are in mountain resort areas throughout the West.  Most of our clients are looking for mountain style homes, often with a rugged, rustic appearance. If you are interested in a mountain home, or you have any other inquiries, please contact us.

Tom Russell, LEED AP and John Hendricks, Architect AIA, NCARB

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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Mountain Style Home in Sandpoint, Idaho

This custom mountain lodge residence in Sandpoint will be featured in Big Sky Journal Magazine.  The recently completed Idaho mountain style home is a great example of the nature themed, mountain architecture designs of John Hendricks AIA, architect and owner of Hendricks Architecture in Sandpoint.

Mountain Residence overlooking Lake Pend Oreille

Elements of wood, stone, and natural light flow from the rugged exterior into the interior, adding a sense of connection with nature.  The exterior materials consist of western red cedar horizontal beveled siding, Montana stone with tight joints, and copper accents.  The interior is rustic contemporary, with douglas fir trusses, beams and columns, along with other wood and stone accents.  The home is 5,600 square feet on five steep acres.  The house is perched near the top of a nob, yet the profile is kept low to blend into the site.

Great Room

The home is designed to take advantage of the beautiful mountain and lake views, including Lake Pend Oreille and the Monarch Mountains to the southeast.  The Pend Oreille River, the City of Sandpoint, and the two mile Long Bridge can be seen to the southwest.  To the west and northwest are Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort and the Selkirk Mountains.  The owners are avid snowboarders, and their master bedroom suite is angled forty-five degrees from the rest of the home to look directly at Schweitzer.  On winter mornings a slight raise of the head is all that’s needed to check the snow or weather on the mountain.

The bar is one of many rooms with great views.

The home has four bedroom suites, and includes four and a half baths.  Also included are a home theater, study, game room, bar, wine room, a great room, a circular staircase and a bridge, along with covered and open decks.  Hydronic floor heating heats the residence.  The owners opted for gas appliance fireplaces rather than wood burning.  Air-conditioning cools the upper level in the warmer summer months.  Large overhangs and trellises minimize the summer solar heat gain, and the south and west facing windows have a higher low-E rating of low-E3 glazing.    The exterior has layered flagstone patios and includes a built-in spa and barbecue.  Storm water is managed by retaining swales.

Wine Room

For further information on mountain architecture, please see our previous posts Mountain Architecture and Origins of Mountain Architecture in America.

John Hendricks, AIA Architect, NCARB

Hendricks Architecture, Idaho mountain home architects in Sandpoint.  We specialize in the design of luxury mountain style homes, cabins and other structures.

Porch - photos by Karl Neumann

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Northwest Mountain Home Developments

As an architect in a mountain resort community, I’m often asked, “What are the big mountain home developments in the Northwest?”  Generally, in terms of mountain homes, I think of the Northwest as Idaho, Western Montana, Western Wyoming, Washington and Oregon.  I won’t include Canada for the sake of keeping the list down.  You can see our recent blog Mountain Home Developments in British Columbia for that, and include areas in Whistler, BC and Canmore, Alberta on the list.  So here are some of the main mountain home developments in the Northwest.

Sandpoint, Idaho is a relatively new community, at least in terms of being known as a resort area.  It is located on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, the biggest lake in the Northwest, before it becomes the Pend Oreille River.  Homes and properties surrounding the lake are just starting to be bought and turned into more upscale luxury homes.  The Idaho Club is one example of a private mountain home community in Sandpoint, and has a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, as well as waterfront properties. Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort has a few mountain neighborhoods, including The Ridge, The Spires, and Mountainside at Schweitzer.  Dover Bay, The Crossing at Willow Bay, and Salishan Point are lakefront developments along the Pend Oreille River.

Coeur d’Alene (CDA is a popular abbreviation), Idaho boasts Black Rock and Gozzer Ranch on opposite sides of Lake Coeur d’Alene.  Black Rock is a private lakefront community and has a Jim Engh designed golf course.  The course is often mentioned as one of the finest golf courses in the Northwest, and the Clubhouse is beautiful.  Gozzer Ranch has a Tom Fazio designed course.  Galena Ridge in Kellogg has a mining theme, set on a golf course below Silver Mountain Resort.

Sun Valley, Idaho has been around forever, so there are big mountain homes everywhere, sometimes mingled with smaller homes.  Sun Valley has the original ski resort, and includes the cities of Sun Valley, Ketchum and Hailey.  Basically the closer you get to Sun Valley Resort the more upscale they are.  A few examples of development occurring on new lots are White Clouds on the northern edge of Sun Valley Resort,  and Independence, located about a mile east and up the hill from Sun Valley.  White Clouds Residences includes 30 homesites at the northern edge of Sun Valley Resort, bordered by the Sun Valley golf course and open space.

In Western Montana, The Wilderness Club in Eureka, north of Whitefish is a big development with a Nick Faldo designed course.  In Whitefish, the area is centered around Whitefish Mountain Resort (formerly Big Mountain), and Whitefish Lake.  Iron Horse has been around for a few years and the homes have the rugged, rustic Montana look.  Smaller, newer neighborhoods include The Homestead and Elk Highlands.  Saddlehorn, in Big Fork on Lake Kalispell is another big development.

The Ranch Club, six miles northwest of Missoula, Montana, has a Les Furber designed course, with 198 custom homesites on 343 acres, 72 townhome & condominium sites, and 95 club lodge sites.  In Hamilton, Montana, south of Missoula, is Stockfarm.  Stockfarm has a Tom Fazio golf course among it’s 2,600 acres.  East of there, Rock Creek Cattle Company outside Deer Lodge has 3 to 110 acre homesteads, and a Tom Doak golf course.

Big Sky, Montana is well known for the Big Sky Resort in the Spanish Peaks.  The Big Sky area includes The Yellowstone Club, The Club at Spanish Peaks and Moonlight Basin, all well known for rugged Montana mountain style homes.  The Yellowstone Club is an ultra-exclusive, invitation only private community with it’s own ski area and Tom Weiskopf designed golf course, all on 13,400 acres.  The Club at Spanish Peaks also has a Tom Weiskopf designed golf course, as well as private ski lifts to Big Sky Resort.    Moonlight Basin is on the north side of Lone Mountain, and the ski resort also accesses Big Sky Resort with the “Lone Peak Ticket”.  Moonlight Basin also includes a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course.

Northwestern Wyoming includes Grand Teton National Park, and directly to the north, Yellowstone National Park.  The Grand Tetons are one of the most beautiful, picturesque mountain ranges around.  Jackson, in the Jackson Hole valley, has always been well known for the rustic mountain resort architecture.  Mountain style subdivisions are all over, including Spring Creek Ranch, Topnotch at Stowe and Whitetail Resort. The Bar BC Ranch has 35 to 53 acre ranch sites on 1,400 acres with world class trout fishing, along with views of the Teton Range, Yellowstone National Park, and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.  The Bar-B-Bar Ranch has ranch parcels starting at 35 acres and up to over 100, with Teton views.  Amangani is a newer development with more contemporary mountain architecture.

Washington mountain style neighborhoods include Suncadia and Tumble Creek (formerly known as Trapper’s Creek) in Roslyn, a town a little over an hours drive east of Seattle in the Cascade Mountains.  Suncadia is an eco-friendly resort and is the largest 3-star built-green resort community in Washington State.  The lodge has 254 luxury guest suites and penthouses.  The Methow Valley is also a popular spot for mountain style architecture, and is a very popular cross-country skiing area.  One of the trails stretches for 120 miles, one of the longest XC trails in the world.

In Oregon, Bend is becoming a well know spot for the mountain style.  Bend is the home of Jeld-Wen Windows & Doors.  Jeld-Wen owns several communities, including Suncadia and Galena Ridge described above.  They also own Brasada Ranch, Eagle Crest Resort, and Yarrow Living in and around Bend, as well as Ridgewater, Harbor Isles, and Running-Y Ranch near Klamath Falls.

Hendricks Architecture specializes in the design of luxury mountain style homes and cabins.  While it is not the only type of work we design, most of the homes we’ve completed are in mountain resort areas throughout the West.  Most of our clients are looking for mountain style homes, often fairly rustic.  Feel free to peruse photos and renderings of mountain architecture.

John Hendricks, Architect AIA

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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Origins of Mountain Architecture in America

At Hendricks Architecture, we specialize in designing luxury mountain style homes and cabins.  While it is not the only type of work we design, most of the homes we’ve completed are in mountain resort areas, and most of our clients are looking for mountain style homes, often fairly rustic.  Mountain Architecture is a broad term used to describe a rustic style of building found throughout the western United States and Canada, and in some of the mountainous areas of New York, New England,  and the Southeast.  For a detailed description of the current style, see Mountain Architecture.

The origins of mountain architecture in America came from the earliest non native peoples who chose to venture into the untamed mountainous areas of the country.  The structures they built were a direct response to the environment they were in.  They had to be made from native materials because transportation means were primitive, and they had to be robust to withstand harsh weather and deep snow.  Often the homes were adapted, pragmatic derivatives of homes they had seen or experienced in old Europe or the cities of the Eastern United States.  Civilization was slow in coming to the mountains, and early buildings reflected this.  Unmilled logs, rough timbers, and natural stone were the norm, and the rustic beauty of these materials became a part of the style.

One precedent for the mountain architecture we see today began during the industrial revolution in the late 1800′s.  In the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, wealthy, educated city dwellers would retreat from the crowded eastern seaboard cities to grand “Great Camps” that were being developed around the numerous lakes in this rugged, untamed wilderness.  This early version of “adventure travel” fueled a boom of construction, and grand waterfront lodges that were both lavish and rustic were built on most of the major lakes in the region.

Adirondack Boat House, Upper St. Regis Lake

The camps of the Adirondacks were constructed of native stone and logs or rough hewn boards, often with the bark still on them.  Ornate stick-work railings, siding, and furniture were hallmarks of the style, as was creating the appearance of “roughing it” while living quite comfortably in a rugged setting.  Adirondack rustic is a distinctive regional style that has endured and is still popular today.

Adirondack Lodge, Heart Lake, New York

Other notable examples of early mountain style architecture can be found in some of the National Parks in the western US.  Before automobiles were popular, people would travel by train to visit the national parks of the west, and grand lodges were developed to house the numerous visitors.  Iconic buildings like the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone, The Glacier Park Lodge in Montana, The Crater Lake Lodge in Oregon, and the Paradise Inn at Mt. Rainier were pioneering examples of the mountain style on a grand scale.

Glacier Park Lodge, Montana

The Ahwahnee Lodge in Yosemite National Park is a great example of how rustic charm and refined elegance can be brought together and designed to harmonize with its surroundings.

Ahwahnee Lodge in Yosemite

Modern mountain style homes borrow from many different architectural styles.  Depending on the Architect, there may be elements of Craftsman/Arts and Crafts, Shingle, Bungalow, Chalet, Prairie, and even early Japanese style in the design.  Agrarian building elements like pointed gables, rusted corrugated metal cladding, and wood plank doors are also common in some areas. Regional variations to the mountain style have evolved, often in response to climatic conditions in a particular area.   Styles in the mountain west include Colorado Territorial, Montana Ranch, Southwestern, and Pacific Northwest.  We have designed homes that borrow from all these styles, depending on where they are located and client preference.

Craftsman Style - The Gamble House in Pasadena

The unique appeal of well designed mountain style homes comes from purposeful use of natural materials, a connection with the outdoors, the appearance of having “grown from the site”, and a strong sense of shelter from the elements.  Since people first ventured out of the cities to recreate or live in the mountains, they have found creative ways of using native materials to create buildings that combine the romance of a frontier homestead with the comfort and conveniences of modern life.  That is the essence of mountain architecture.

Grand Canyon Ranger Station

For those interested in a more comprehensive history of mountain architecture, an excellent source is Tom Deering’s Masters Thesis from the University of Washington archives.  Tom Deering is currently practicing architecture in the Seattle area.

See also recent mountain architecture photos and renderings.  If you are interested in having us design you a mountain home, or you have any other inquiries, please contact us.

John Hendricks, Architect AIA

Hendricks Architecture, Idaho mountain architects.

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Mountain Home Developments in British Columbia

There are several mountain home developments in British Columbia that specify mountain architecture.  More than I could possibly mention.  I’ll name a few that I know of in Southern and Southeastern BC.  This is in response to a comment on Mountain Vacation in Southern British Columbia and Alberta.  Those developments in Southwestern BC, including Whistler, will need to be in a future post.

British Columbia Mountain Home Developments

Mountain Home Developments in Southern BC:

Lakestone Resort on Lake Okanagan between Kelowna and Vernon.  Luxury lakeside community with some waterfront lots, a Hurdzan Fry signature golf course, village and marina.
Sagebrush Golf and Sporting Club, invite only exclusive resort west of Kelowna on Nicola Lake.
Tobiano on Kamloops Lake.  Waterfront community with Thomas McBroom signature golf course, clubhouse and marina.
Red Mountain ski-in and ski-out lots, near Rossland.

Some developments with mountain architecture in Southeastern BC:

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, a mountain ski and outdoor village in Golden.
Lookout Ridge at Sun Peaks Resort, a skiing, public golf and mountain biking resort.
Whiskey Jack Resort in Sparwood.  Fred Couples signature golf course.
Forest Crowne Resort.  Resort community in Kimberley.
Wildstone in Cranbrook includes Gary Player and Black Knight designed golf courses.

Mountain Home Developments in Fernie, BC, a town near Sandpoint, Idaho and Whitefish, Montana.  Fernie is an outdoor resort community with skiing, golf, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, etc.

Silver Springs Development
Alpine Trails
Silver Ridge Estates
Black Rock Estates
Fernie Golf Estates

John Hendricks, AIA Architect

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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Mountain Architecture

What is Mountain Architecture?  The mountain architecture vernacular consists of bold, natural and textured buildings and materials.  These buildings should functionally and aesthetically withstand rugged mountainous environments, as well as blend into the topography.

Mountain homes should take advantage of nature by bringing the outdoors in through ample amounts of glazing and natural materials, and by extending indoor living spaces to the outside (outdoor living rooms) with decks, terraces and other exterior areas.  A home exterior should look like it has grown out of the site rather than being lowered down from a helicopter.  It can take advantage of the surrounding trees, boulders and other landforms by incorporating them into the home and the outdoor living rooms, and designing around them.  Interiors should have a good range of natural materials and forms.  These are often more rustic than the typical home, and sometimes have an Old World appearance.  Designed tastefully, this will often give the home a Rustic Elegance.

Mountain architecture is generally massed to taper down into the site.  Multiple volumes conform to the existing terrain and are in scale with the existing landscape.  Large, symmetrical, obtrusive building forms are often avoided.  Some single story elements help keep a mountain home residential in scale.

Broad sheltering roofs appear to cascade down in steps or multi-level designs, and protect against winter snow, spring rain and summer sun.  Roofs generally have a 4:12 to 12:12 pitch.  Depending on the locality, there is little ornamentation.  For instance, the rugged, bold architecture of Big Sky and Whitefish in Montana, Telluride, Colorado and Jackson Hole, Wyoming may often have less ornamentation and detail than buildings in Vail, Colorado and Lake Tahoe.

Architects who design mountain architecture most often utilize natural materials and colors.  Roofs may consist of cedar shakes or slate,  sometimes with copper accents.  Siding is frequently cedar (boards or logs) and stone.  Recycled barn wood is sometimes used for a more rustic look.  If wood is to be stained it should let the natural grains show through.  The stone should be bigger at the base to give it an anchored and structural appearance.  Large mortar joints should be avoided in the mountain style.

In the mountains, columns, beams, rafters and other structural elements are bigger and bolder for protection against heavy snow loads.   These are typically douglas fir and/or reclaimed wood.  Windows are typically kept to a minimum on the front elevation, while opening up to broad views on the back or view elevations, which many times have daylight basements to take advantage of the steep slopes.  Windows typically have wood or metal clad (aluminum, copper or bronze) frames.  These frames can have an aged patina for an older appearance.  Garage doors are wood, many times in the carriage style.

Landscaping is also an important element in quality mountain architecture.  Home sites should be designed for maximum privacy, minimal visibility, minimized grading and disruption of natural drainage.  Sites are kept natural by containing water runoff, and enhancing the natural landforms and vegetation.  Smart design should keep retaining walls to a minimum, both to preserve a natural look as well as save on costs.  These retaining walls are most often natural stone.  Vegetation will help these walls blend into the site.

Other landscape elements include native hardscaping (patios, walkways), and minimal walls, fences and gates.  When these are incorporated they should look open and natural, and relate to the building.  A good architect or landscape architect should know of some good tricks here for the benefits of privacy and the homeowner’s personal tastes.  Driveways are often natural materials such as stone, but are more cost effective with concrete (colored, stamped, aggregate), pre-cast pavers, or asphalt.

Mountain style architecture has similar elements to other vernaculars.  These include Montana ranch, rustic western style, and historic logging and mining styles.   Craftsman/Arts & Crafts, Chalet, Prairie, Japanese and even Tuscan elements can be incorporated into the mountain style if done tastefully.

Mountain Architecture generally occurs in the mountains of the West, and in pockets of the Northeast and Southeast.  In the West, besides the previously mentioned Vail, Jackson Hole, Big Sky, Whitefish, Telluride and Lake Tahoe, other areas with mountain style homes include Sun Valley, Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint and Priest Lake in Idaho, Aspen, Steamboat Springs, Durango and Crested Butte in Colorado, and Park City in Utah.   In Southwestern Canada, Whistler is by far the most popular mountain resort area, and will host the 2010 Winter Olympics.  Canmore in Alberta is popular with it’s close proximity to Banff, and was the site of the nordic events when Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics.

For further information, please also see or blog on Origins of Mountain Architecture in America.

Feel free to peruse more mountain architecture photos and renderings.  Hendricks Architecture specializes in the design of luxury mountain style homes and cabins.  While it is not the only type of work we design, most of the homes we’ve completed are in mountain resort areas throughout the West.  Most of our clients are looking for mountain style homes, often fairly rustic. If you are interested in having us design you a mountain home, or you have any other inquiries, please contact us.

John Hendricks, AIA Architect

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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John Hendricks, AIA Architect • Architecture, Planning, Construction Management
418 Pine St, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 • T 208.265.4001 F 208-265-4009 • john@hendricksarch.com