This is an amazing contemporary house with a rustic touch in Montana designed by the distinguished firm Hughes Umbanhowar Architects.

Completed in 2013, this 3,800 square foot home was designed to fit and adapt to the surrounding environment.

The most notable design element, which is only apparent in the Spring, is how it sits on a 30″ tall porous plinth so that the living area is above the flood plane of the nearby river. This is critically necessary when in Spring, the nearby river expands underneath the home giving it a floating appearance.

The home is a “T” shape, part of which is 2 stories; the other 1 story. Materials include:

Steel frame;
Concrete foundation;
Metal roof;
Green sod rood;
Wood barn siding (readapted);
Ipe decking;
Limestone floors.

The home also features geothermal heating and cooling, LED lighting and a Bulthaup kitchen.

What is remarkable is how the contemporary style so seamlessly mixes with the rustic touches, especially the extensive woodwork throughout which is balanced with massive windows which pretty much form the entire wall system on both levels.

the upper floor looks out onto the green roof of the lower wing (see below).

For such a contemporary design, it fits beautifully in its natural environment including a structure to accommodate nearby flooding waters.

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