Coordinating Success

> Story by Kirsten Rue
> Photography by David Agnello

The word “pavilion” conjures an image of open air with light and landscape beyond, and this North Gros Ventre Butte home embodies the term perfectly. Rather than settling on north- or south-facing exposure, the home offers almost 360-degree views from its levels, which appear at first glance to be entirely comprised of suspended, shimmering glass. Situated diagonally on its lot, the home flows with the natural swale of the bluff and peers down into the valley of Jackson Hole from two different vantage heights.

For Jackson’s Teton Heritage Builders, the project presented a unique opportunity and challenge: executing a top-down, modern vision from esteemed Chicago-based architectural firm Nagle Hartray. The homeowners had a personal connection to Nagle’s firm, and associate principal Rocco Castellano served as the project architect on the signature Nagle design: a 6,320-square-foot home consisting of three pavilions connected by a breezy gallery on one side.

Courtyard: On the walkway, a stainless-steel sculpture by Indonesia-based artist Chen gleams, lending “a sense of mathematical poetry.” The piece was loaned by Diehl Gallery.

Passive solar energy adjusts seasonally via these louvers, shading the glass in the summer while allowing for more light in the winter. A super-insulated building envelope, rainscreen detail, solar thermal hot water system, and the natural ventilation of all the operable doors and windows earned the home an energy star rating that exceeds other homes of its size.

Keith Benjamin, THB project manager, explains their work process, “With so many clean lines and so many linear and angular shapes and sizes, everything has to be coordinated with very little margin for error. There are surprises that always come up in the field, so we worked through those in our weekly conference calls and recommended solutions to the architect.”

The center pavilion—a two-story showstopper that creates one generous living and entertaining space—features 12 10-foot lift-and-slide doors that glide on smooth, wheeled tracks while remaining sealed and weather-tight. With rollaway screens to boot, every wall of the house dissolves and becomes outdoor space as easily as a twist and slide. French balconies adorn the upper story, offering another point for soaking in the panoramic views.

Exposure: The team advised Nagle Hartray when it came to the proper material selections for our dry climate, discussing the sun, wind, and lighting of the home’s setting.
Soaring Chimney: A fireplace of sage hill stone introduces more calming natural materials to the great room.

On the modern, un-fussy aesthetic of the design package, Superintendent Russ Weaver remarks, “One thing I love about the whole house is the clean lines and the lack of trim.”

“The way the siding and interior woodwork relate, they look like they come right through the glass wall,” Benjamin agrees.

Yet, the home’s warmth belies its austere lines and shining rows of windows. “It all comes from the materials we used,” Benjamin notes. Russet tones of Spanish cedar, all-natural slate tiling, and quartersawn oak floors retain a glow in any lighting.

Nook: A splash of red and a mixed media work by artist Peter Hoffer add liveliness to the dining area.

The blend of all the home’s elements proved just as relevant to the architecture as Teton Heritage Builders’ careful precision work. Ken Davis of Xssentials cites this project as an example of “how tightly we collaborate with architects to maintain the design elements of the home while still providing performance audio.” A frequent collaborator with THB, Xssentials provides easy-to-use home automation packages for customers, which are state-of-the-art and operated by intuitive software. “We have a set of proven processes for successfully delivering any job. It’s great having an established relationship with THB; we’re able to work easily together, resulting in a positive experience for the homeowner,” he adds.

“When a homeowner is involved in the development of the architectural aesthetic for their home, it is even more natural for that aesthetic to ultimately translate into a balance between art and design,” echoes Mariam Diehl, the owner of Diehl Gallery, which lent all the staging artwork for the home.

The complete design confluence of the central pavilion almost makes one unaware of its other two wings, but they’re there: a master suite accessed from the upper-floor gallery and three additional en suite bedrooms. These more private pavilions allow the family two modes of living—they can share the office, kitchen, dining, and living space, or retreat for sanctuary.

Media Upgrade: Stylish stairs lead to the upper gallery and also to a media room downstairs. Together, Nagle Hartray Architects, THB, and Xssentials designed and installed a high-performance home theatre while maintaining room style and aesthetics, cleverly concealing equipment and speakers.
Organic: As the team installed the distinctive Spanish cedar, they noted its woodsy, spicy aroma.
Alignment: “There’s just a design continuity that flows everywhere from the site. From the exterior hardscape to the construction detailing of the house to the furniture and rugs, everything is consistent,” says Benjamin.

“For a family home, there’s enough space where you don’t feel like you’re crowded, ever,” says Weaver. “It feels really connected and yet private.”

THB met the task of advising an out-of-state design team on a highly demanding build with enthusiasm. “This was an opportunity to show that we can do modern,” says Benjamin. “We can apply the same kind of construction techniques to building modern, and the process of collaborating on the design and selection process with the homeowners remains the same. From there, we leverage the talented tradespeople that we have in this valley to pull it all together.”

In this finished home, everything sings.