Straddling an arroyo from nearby hills, Sky View Residence is a flexible retreat that deeply engages with the expansive mountain and valley views. This contemporary mountain home is both a resilient refuge against harsh winter weather and a gateway to nature.
Photo: Aaron Leitz
Sky View Residence
Sun Valley, ID
Aspen and willow trees surround the home’s concrete and steel forms, which are elevated to capture expansive views in all directions. A seven-foot, glossy red lacquer door establishes the entrance, opening onto a short interior corridor that leads to a garage and workshop, as well as a sauna with an intimate view to the south. This corridor ends at a covered exterior patio; on the other side of this outdoor space, a glazed box provides an independent suite for visiting friends and family.
Accessed via a mesh and steel stair, the elevated main level includes kitchen, dining, and living areas within a central glass and steel pavilion. A double-sided fireplace delineates the living and dining rooms, providing cozy space for gathering on either side. The kitchen features exposed steel shelves and cabinets and a red lacquer breakfast table that references the entry door. Kinetic glass walls seamlessly open these indoor living spaces to a generous exterior terrace. In the dining room, a custom, wheeled table adds flexibility for hosting and entertaining.
An adjacent office with extensive glazing frames sweeping mountain views that can be further enjoyed from a steel catwalk that cantilevers above the ground. At the other end of the main level, the primary suite seems to float above the landscape. Here, soft plaster walls and custom casework add warmth to the otherwise industrial feel of the home.
Sky View Residence balances its industrial appearance with a textured, earthy palette and striking accents of burnt sienna. Custom rugs in shades of grey and brown, with the occasional ribbon of red, soften the concrete and dark wood floors. An interplay of elegance and ruggedness unfolds in the living room, where a cloud-like white sofa complements curved and contoured leather chairs. The primary bedroom features organic textures, such as a ceramic lamp and volcanic stone stool, to contrast with the architecture’s straight lines and angles. In the sky lounge, a terracotta lamp casts a soft glow over a red leather chair and a white sofa, gently grounding the viewer below the open sky.
On the top floor, an intimate, wood-paneled sky lounge provides expansive views of the valley. With the turn of a wheel, the home’s signature kinetic element deploys, opening the roof to the sky for unparalleled stargazing.
The crescendo is the roof of the top-floor music room, which opens to reveal the fifth elevation—the sky. It’s like a fire tower with a 360-degree view of the mountains, valley, and a connection to the riot of stars in this dark sky.Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA
Design Principal
Big Island Residence
Bay Area, California
Team
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Hart Sanders
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Debbie Kennedy