36 DIGS.NET
| 5.6.2022
P R O F I L E | C L B A R C H I T E C T S
Characterized by a simple, linear façade and uninterrupted
glass walls, the single-story house is oriented to enjoy the
panorama and organized around three courtyard gardens,
accommodating a constant and direct visual connection with
nature. "I love the curvilinear openings over the courtyards,
which we nicknamed 'the guitar picks,'" confesses Kevin Burke,
design principal at CLB Architects. "It was a chance to have a
little bit of fun and whimsy."
The angular S-shaped plan pulls apart the public and private
spaces, which feel like small pavilions. The centrally located
living/dining/kitchen area features a ceiling that bumps up 5
feet above the other spaces, expanding the views and giving a
sensation of more volume. A double-sided fireplace connects
to a more intimately scaled den, which is separated from the
primary bedroom suite with a landscaped courtyard. A guest
room/office occupies the other end of the home where there is
another courtyard. With an aspen tree that grows through an
opening in the roof, the entry is situated in the third courtyard
on the east, which is also home to a guest suite and the garage.
"The continuous roof plane stitches the building together into a
unified form," the architects say.
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The color palette is simple both inside and outside with materials
strongly inspired by Japanese design. The exterior is clad in a
naturally finished cedar while the interior has white oak floors,
hemlock ceilings and millwork.
"From the beginning, the client said 'the view is our art,'" Burke
explains. "The panoramic 'art' that constantly shifts with the
weather and seasons could have quickly become a cold glass
box, especially in the long Wyoming winter. To combat this,
we worked to create varying levels of privacy and intimacy
by reducing the volume of spaces, being more selective with
framing views depending on the program of that space."
Aptly named Tengoku, which means "paradise" in Japanese,
this house offers a dynamic experience at every moment and
from every corner. clbarchitects.com
