When I first visited this site, the owner and I immediately had the idea for a building that seems to be emerging out of the landscape. The east end of the house is buried, while the two projecting west-facing wings have unobstructed 270-degree views of Bald Mountain, Griffin Butte, and Adams Gulch. The house takes advantage of all the site has to offer: sweeping landscape views, balanced with a sense of being underneath, within. I?m always trying to find the yin and yang of a place. Likewise, the two main sections have windows onto a central courtyard, and the pivot wall opens to face it as well. The idea was to create more intimate moments that would balance the big views.

© Benjamin Benschneider

Architects: Olson Kundig

Location: Ketchum, ID, United States
Area: 6500.0 m2

Project Year: 2015

Photographs: Benjamin Benschneider , Courtesy of Olson Kundig

Engineer: Benchmark Associates

Landscape: Ben Young

Lighting: Lighting Design Inc

Interiors: Carol Schaeffer, Natalie Hyde, GGLO

Specifications: OKA

Other: Turner Exhibits

General Contractor:Schuchart: Dow

Light Fixtures: Josh Commons, Sun Valley Bronze

Custom Fabrication: Scott Taylor, Taylormade

© Benjamin Benschneider

When I first visited this site, the owner and I immediately had the idea fo...