Montana Cookhouse
Architects & Firms
Livingston, Montana
Site Size: 17,000 acres
Project Size: 2,800 square feet
Program: The Cookhouse is the latest project in an ongoing renovation of an abandoned homestead in rural Montana. Over the last 15 years, the clients have renovated and expanded a number of structures for a working ranch and family vacation compound. The 2,800-square-foot Cookhouse is meant to be the hub of ranch activity; its kitchen and living areas are large enough to accommodate extended family dinners and community gatherings.
The architects were charged with designing a structure that would complement—but not overwhelm—the neighboring buildings. The severe climate in south-central Montana was a major concern; temperatures can fluctuate by as much as 115 degrees and 75-mile-per-hour wind gusts are not uncommon.
Solution: At one-and-a-half stories, the house, clad in stained wood, complements the other clapboard structures. The orientation of the house is east-west so the narrow ends point into the wind, while an overhang shields the wrap-around porch. Dormers in the steep, gabled roof provide additional light and ventilation.
In planning the living spaces, Fernau + Hartman organized the house, completed in September 2012, around a central axis containing a long gallery for the client’s collection of Western art. On the first floor, a mudroom, pantry, kitchen, dining, and living spaces branch off the central gallery, while a master bedroom and children’s room extend off the gallery on the second floor. The axis also connects the entire house to a thermal chimney projecting from the roof, which keeps the house cool in the summer. In the winter, geothermal heat and wood stoves warm the house.
Architect:
Fernau + Hartman Architects
2512 Ninth St. No. 2
Berkeley, CA 94703
t: 510-848-4480
PeopleCompletion Date: September 2012 Gross square footage: 2,800 sq.ft. Total construction cost: Cost withheld Owner: Name withheld Architect: Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit: Design Team: Engineer(s): Consultant(s): Lighting: Anna Kondolf Lighting Design General contractor: North Fork Builders, Inc. Photographer(s): Renderer(s): Bryan Allen (Fernau + Hartman Architects) CAD system, project management, or other software used: |
ProductsStructural system Exterior cladding Metal: Roofing Windows Doors Other wood doors: Simpson Hardware Pulls: Sugatsune Interior finishes Paints and stains: Benjamin Moore, Cabot, Farrow & Ball Walls: Special surfacing: Floor and wall tile: Special interior finishes unique to this project: Furnishings Lighting Downlights: Louis Poulsen Task lighting: Artemide, Alkco, Bartco, Juno Exterior: Louis Poulsen, Cooper Plumbing Energy Ground source heat pump for hot water & radiant heat, with outdoor reset system that automatically supplies cooler water or shuts off when outdoor temperatures are higher. Ceiling fans - Modern Fans Other unique products that contribute to sustainability: |
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