Golden, British Columbia

In designing a house for a family of five at the Kicking Horse ski resort in Golden, British Columbia, architect Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (BCJ) wanted to make the most of views while preserving privacy on a tight site. The 1-acre property sits on a loop road near a ski trail in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, bordered by houses on either side. The best vistas were from the front, looking east, and at the back, looking out to the slopes.

The architects split the 3,500-square-foot house into two volumes: one, a long, three-level bar-shaped building for sleeping and cooking, plus lower-level storage and parking; the other, a smaller polygon for the living and dining room. A glazed link between the two structures provides skiers with direct entry to the boot room one level below. The clearly articulated division of spaces is not only efficient but can comfortably accommodate over a dozen guests (with the help of bunk beds), says BCJ principal in charge Ray Calabro.

The smaller volume for the living/dining room floats over the forest floor, supported by steel beams anchored to the poured-in-place concrete fireplace and to the north stair. Its roof lifts up to the west to capture views of spruce and aspen trees, while a deep overhang acts as a visor to shield the interior from the sun. The adjoining bar-like building has steel columns supporting an 88-foot-long timber roof pitched at a 40-degree angle to the south. It dramatically cantilevers at the east and west ends, beyond a poured concrete base.

Besides using painted steel for the folded roof, the architects sheathed exterior walls in black-stained and natural red cedar, punctuated by red and white fiber cement board panels. The combination of these materials on the exterior, along with interior surfaces of Douglas fir plywood, create an unexpectedly cozy cabin rendered as a modernist ski chalet.

Completion Date: November 2011

Gross Square Footage: 3,500 square feet

Architect:
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
1932 First Avenue
Suite 916, Seattle
WA 98101
t. 206-256-0862
f. 206-256-0864

People

Architect:
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
1932 First Avenue
Suite 916, Seattle
WA 98101
t. 206-256-0862
f. 206-256-0864

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:
Raymond S. Calabro, AIA, Principal in Charge (registered architect);
Kyle Phillips, Project Manager; Robert E. Miller, FAIA, Project Team (registered architect);
Peter Bohlin, FAIA, Project Team (registered architect)

Architect of record:
Bohlin Grauman Miller Architects, Inc.

Interior designer:
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

Engineer(s):
Cascade Engineering Group ' Structural Engineer
ReEvolution Engineering ' Mechanical Engineer

General contractor:
HR Pacific Construction

Photographer(s):
Nic Lehoux
© Nic Lehoux
604.874.0918

Matthew Millman
© Matthew Millman
415.577.3200

Renderer(s):
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

CAD system, project management,
or other software used:
Bentley Microstation, Google Sketchup

  

Products

Structural system
Cast-in-place board-formed concrete walls, wood frame, steel frame, laminated wood beams

Manufacturer of any structural components unique to this project:
Board-formed concrete walls- HR Pacific Construction Steel frame- Regier Engineering TJI floor joists- Louisiana Pacific Solid Start TJI Laminated wood beams- Spearhead Timberworks

Exterior cladding
Metal Panels:
Cascadia Metals steel panels, 'Weathered Zinc' finish Pre-weathered Cor-Ten panels

Rainscreen:
Fiber-cement panel by James Hardie Building Products

Wood:
Western Red Cedar Siding w/ CBR Products' Broda stain

Moisture barrier:
Dow Styrofoam Weathermate Plus House Wrap

Roofing
Built-up roofing:
Modified bitumen membrane w/ gravel ballast

Metal:
Cascadia Metals steel standing seam roof, 'Weathered Zinc' finish

Other:
GAF Deck Armor Premium Breathable Roof Deck Protection

Windows
Wood frame:
Point Five Windows- Aluminum clad w/ beech interior

Glazing
Glass:
PPII Dual Glazed, Low-E

Doors
Entrances:
Custom design by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson ' Fabricated by Clearform Design

Wood doors:
Custom built by HR Pacific Construction

Sliding doors:
Point Five Windows

Upswinging doors, other:
Schweiss hydraulic garage door

Hardware
Locksets:
Reveal Designs, Colombo

Pulls:
Reveal Designs, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Lever 1 Colombo, Gira lever by Jasper Morrison

Interior finishes
Cabinetwork and custom woodwork:
Custom millwork by Clearform Design

Paints and stains:
CBR Products' Broda stain, Benjamin Moore custom paint colors

Paneling:
Louisiana Pacific ACX Plywood (at living room) w/clear finish Western Red Cedar Siding w/ CBR Products' Broda stain

Solid surfacing:
Caesarstone quartz countertops

Special surfacing:
Concrete floors with exposed aggregate

Floor and wall tile:
Bathrooms ' Ann Sacks Tile

Wood flooring:
Pacific Coast Maple with custom stain

Furnishings
Fixed seating:
Custom window seats, bed platforms, and breakfast nook bench by Clearform Design

Chairs:
Dining Chairs - Hiroshima armchair, Maruni collection, Naoto Fukasawa, beech
Dining Chair- Standard chair, Vitra, Jean Prouve, light blue frame
Stool- 64 high stool, Artek, Alvar Aalto, birch
Lounge chair- Cite lounge chair, Vitra, Jean Prouve, red frame
Bench- Harry Bertoia bench, Knoll, chrome frame w/ black slats
Outdoor chair- BKF canvas butterfly chair, Circa 50, Jorge Ferrari Hardoy, yellow

Tables:
Dining Table - Extension table, Maruni collection, Naoto Fukasawa, beech
Coffee table - CH008 coffee table, Carl Hansen and Son, Hans Wegner, oak
Side table - 60 low stool, Artek, Alvar Aalto, birch
Side table - Alder Cube, Brent Comber

Upholstery:
Window seat cushions ' Upholstery: Knoll Textiles Lutron Sivoia roller shade system

Other furniture:
Living Room Sofa- Flexform, Long Island sofa, Color 242
Family Room Sofa- Softline, Nevada sofa, felt, light blue #858
Bean bag - Softline Magnum beanbag, felt, red 852, green 855
Area rug - Danskina, Bravoure rug, Color 685
Area rug - Danskina, Ulf Moritz, Dune area rug, new wool felt, color 1110

Lighting
Downlights:
Lumiere, Juno, Seagull, BK, Iris, Aamsco, Eureka

Task lighting:
Floor lamp- Isamu Noguchi, Akari floor lamp
Floor lamp- AJ floor lamp, Louis Poulsen, Arne Jacobsen,
Pendant lamp- PH Artichoke, Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen,
Headboard lamp- Tolomeo mini wall lamp, Artemide
Headboard lamp- Tolomeo wall spot light, Artemide

Dimming System or other lighting controls:
Lutron w/ Apple iPad interface

Plumbing
Toilets- Duravit, Toto
Sinks- Julien, Kohler
Faucets/Controls- Cifial, KWC
Tubs- Zuma
Hot Tub- Canadian Hot Tubs

Appliances
Washer/Dryer- Asko
Refrigerator/Freezer- Sub-Zero
Cooktop/Hood/Oven- Miele
Dishwasher- Miele
Garbage Disposal- In-Sink-Erator

Other unique products that contribute to sustainability:
Geothermal heat source w/ Nordic geothermal heat pump Lifebreath HRV system