Butterfly

About this project

General overview

Instead of a typical log cabin, the clients wanted a modern home that incorporated the regional aesthetic, blended in with its surroundings, and embraced the views of the Tetons. The home’s exterior is clad in hearty, earthy materials, including board-formed concrete, exposed steel beams and siding, reclaimed pine, and carefully placed windows. The interior is clean and crisp, with walnut trim and doors, and a combination of concrete and reclaimed oak wood floors with radiant heat.

What makes it special

Butterfly was featured as Mountain Living Magazine’s 2014 Home of the Year. The home is a study in textures and materials and marries rustic and rugged elements with clean and crisp modern lines and finishes. The choice of materials pays tribute to the beauty of the surrounding landscape. Rustic textures and colors represent the rugged terrain surrounding the home. The home’s uniquely designed roofline opens to and frames the surrounding views of the mountains and valleys. The winged roof floats above the landscape, but the use of modern materials integrated with earthen tones grounds the home.

The client’s love of Jackson Hole and the outdoors inspired the designers to replace a formal entryway or porch with an outdoor living room. The outdoor fireplace, surrounded by durable custom-built furniture, makes it an inviting space on even the coldest days.

Type of building

Mountain Modern Home

Other specific details

From a constructability standpoint, Butterfly was a budget and schedule-driven project that largely dictated the materials used. OSM & PDG collaborated to select natural materials that accomplished the “look” through an extensive sample and finishes process. An interesting aspect of Butterfly is that the foundational materials, often concealed in most homes, are used as finish materials and exposed almost entirely to achieve the desired aesthetic effect. Unlike conventional residential construction, this home’s entire structural system is composed of steel and concrete. Though challenging from a layout standpoint, these elements were instrumental in achieving the soaring overhangs and butterfly roofline for which the home is known.