Finalist
The goal for the Summit Mountain Architecture Prototype was to create an architectural language of modesty and restraint – and one that can be employed to create a built environment of varied shapes and textures sympathetic to their natural surroundings.
The 2200 SQFT building is a compact two-story structure located on the 50’ x 50’ parcel of Site 1 superimposed onto Site 4. The building is a collision of two sloped volumes purposely oriented to provide expansive views for all primary living spaces. The structure’s uncomplicated geometry is enriched by sustainable material choices such as unstained cedar siding and durable mahogany windows. Its minimalist interior derives its character from the seasonal changes of the alpine site.
The building assembly is stitched into the landscape using graduated terraces, dry-stack stone retaining walls, a mixture of permeable paving, and by making use of existing boulders and indigenous grasses.
The simple formal language of the design supports construction methods appropriate for alpine environments that have abbreviated construction periods. Structural insulated panels (SIPS) construction is fast and cost effective while providing a high performance thermal envelope for the building. Partnered with other sustainable technologies such as photo-voltaic panels, rainwater harvesting, and geothermal heating systems, the building would serve as a model Summit Mountain Architecture Prototype.