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Montana
Designed by Chicago architect Cathy Osika, this home was designed for a busy international couple as their family getaway and retirement home in the mountains. Energy efficiency and function were paramount requirements along with the necessity of showcasing their extensive collection of Asian and mid-century art.
The 3-story bookcase is a major focal point and organizing feature of the plan and the staircase follows it down thru the home. It sets the tone by framing the owners’ art collection, lighting the stairs and uniting the spaces with structure and line.
The home has a distinct Japanese esthetic in large and detailed ways. The entryways are a step down from the main home to provide a place to leave exterior shoes. Handmade Japanese tiles on the fireplace complement the traditional sunken dining table and tatami mats in the dining room – look closely they are curved! The table was made locally by MFGR from steel and fir salvaged from the home site. The fir stair treads and shelving were milled from reclaimed beams and hand finished to reveal the distinct beauty of the grain and knots in each piece.
While modern in form and finish, the exterior of the home was clad in colors and textures reflective of its western mountain location. Reclaimed corral board siding, rusted metal and khaki Hardiplank combine to give definition and color to the various volumes as one moves around the home. The slate rock that was used for landscaping walls, accents, pathways and steps came from the site during excavation and got used to beautiful effect.
Energy efficiency: The entire foundation, including footings and sub-slab, was wrapped in R-25 EPS insulation board. The walls are a R-40 Structural Insulated panel with an additional EPS panel wrapped around them to eliminate thermal breaks and improve the R-value. The ceilings are a combination of SIPs panels and spray foam insulation for an R-value of 60. We also installed a 3KW grid-tied solar array to take advantage of abundant sunshine. A Heat Recovery Ventilation System, Siebel Hybrid Electric Hot Water Heater, Alpen 725 windows, dimmable lights throughout, an insulated garage door and a fiberglass insulated front door rounded out our efficiency package.