Studhorse Photo: Benjamin Benschneider

Studhorse

Winthrop, Washington

Set in the remote Methow Valley, Studhorse responds to the clients’ desire to experience and interact with the surrounding environment throughout all four seasons. Riffing on the tradition of circling wagons, the buildings—four small, unattached structures—are scattered around a central courtyard and pool.

Studhorse exemplifies design principal Tom Kundig’s belief that his job is to create an experience of place. Traditional boundaries between the built structure and its surroundings are purposefully blurred, forcing the clients to experience the site and nature. With the four buildings positioned to spill open to the central courtyard, the design is oriented toward family life and entertaining.

Tough building materials, mostly steel and glass, were utilized to stand up to the equally tough environmental conditions—from hot, fire-prone summers to winters with heavy snow pack. The wood siding was salvaged from an old barn in nearby Spokane, WA. Over time as the wood and steel weather, the home will become more and more muted in appearance, further blending into the landscape.

Interior Design

New and old commingle in this approachable living space. Vintage Danish modern sitting chairs upholstered in antique blankets are complemented by eclectic furnishings, from a mid-1950s teak floor lamp to a blackened steel console table from the Tom Kundig Collection.

Reclaimed corral boards form the kitchen ceiling while a symphony of rugged materials—plywood cabinets and pre-cast concrete counter tops—lend an approachable aesthetic. The custom-designed steel fireplace poker was fabricated by Maria Cristalli, while the custom-designed rolling fireplace screen was fabricated by Argent Fabrication.

This family retreat is accented by casual furnishings and warm materials. Expansive windows draw nature inside while interior spaces spill out onto covered patios, uniting indoors and outdoors throughout the seasons.

In this location, a house that’s all about adventure is one that forces you to be outside and engage actively with the seasons. You have to go outside to get inside. So the house has what some might call inconveniences, but the clients and I see them as terrific, unforgettable moments. Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA
Design Principal

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