Alta, Wyoming, USA
David Jameson and Alexandra Wonjo have created the Teton Residence, a private house whose design weaves together the pressures of building in a remote alpine environment with limited construction labor while celebrating the immense beauty of the site and surroundings.
Conceptually, a sinuous tent clad in blackened zinc echoes the adjacent Teton Range while providing sculptural spatial experiences.
The Teton Residence has recently been awarded a 2023 American Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture, Design, and Urban Studies.
Prefabricated in Kansas City, the billowing structure is constructed of waterjet aluminum ribs joined into unitized wall panels with a vented “cold cavity” to aid in snow control.
The design and fabrication allow the project to be erected and closed during the summer building months, reducing the construction timeline by a year.
The home is situated in a remote area of “Big Sky” country, the interior and exterior spaces are personally scaled while offering expansive views, extending the home far beyond its property boundaries.
The sinuous form of the residence echoes the forms of the instantly recognizable Teton Range which is viewed from the site.
The sinuous roofs and walls of the residence direct snowmelt and rainwater to geothermally heated catch basins that distribute runoff to the adjacent wetlands.
The Teton Residence is largely prefabricated off-site to conserve time and costs due to the difficult and long winters of the area.
Builders in this region often spend half a day digging out from snowfall, leading to limited production and increased costs during the winter building season.
LED lights, spray foam insulation, and radiant HVAC systems minimize energy usage while solar shading of large glazing expenses allows the inhabitants to feel connected to the alpine setting in a daylighting environment.
Project: Teton Residence
Architects: David Jameson Architect, Inc.
Design Team: David Jameson and Alexandra Wonjo
Client: Private
Photographers: Jasper Sanidad
