Project: Pattee Canyon Residence
Architecture: MMW Architects
Team: Angie Lipski (principal), Kurt McGrane (project architect)
Builder: JM Moran Construction
Location: Missoula, Montana, United States
Year: 2020
Size: 3,485 square feet (324 square meters); four bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Photo Credits: Gibeon Photography
Pattee Canyon Residence was built on a steep slope with unmatched views across the Missoula valley. The design and roof structure give this home the airy open space the owners were hoping for to feel like they are part of the surrounding natural environment.
Perched on a forested hillside above Missoula, the Pattee Canyon Residence provides a series of bright, light filled spaces for a young family of six. Set into the hillside, the home appears humble from the street while opening up to panoramic views towards the valley. The family frequently puts on large gatherings for friends of all ages; thus, multiple “eddy out” spaces were created throughout the home for more intimate chats.
Exposed steel structural ribs and generous glazing in the great room create a rhythm and draw one’s gaze to the folding horizon. Smaller windows on the lower level frame intimate portraits of nature. Cedar siding and dark shingle roofing help the home blend in with its piney surroundings. Inside, rough sawn cabinetry and nature inspired tile provide a textural balance with the bright white spaces and contemporary fixtures.
The living area features a pellet stove, which has lower emissions and thus is better for air quality than a traditional wood-burning stove. Streamlined, neutral-toned furniture selected by the homeowners lets the views provide most of the pattern and color.
At the far end of the room, centered in a 16-foot-wide expanse of glass, is an 8-foot-wide door that opens onto a spacious deck.
