Pub. 7 2019 Directory

30 THE MONTANA ARCHITECT | 2019-2020 | www.aia-mt.org Confluence House Just outside of Whitefish, Montana, at the confluence of two rivers, lays a 15-acre oasis of open meadows and tranquil wetlands sur- rounded by old growth forest, providing the perfect backdrop for a fly fisherman’s dream home. The design team used three separate structures to act as a bridge between the built and natural environments. The main house lies parallel to the bank of the Whitefish River, falling perfectly in line with its steady flow, while the guest house is positioned to overlook the adjacent Haskill Creek. These two structures are connected by a common roof, which provides a sheltered outdoor living space re- ferred to as the Eddy Patio. This gathering space was specifically de- signed to celebrate the wonderful confluence of friends and family, while highlighting the junction of the two rivers naturally becoming one. The third structure in the complex is a detached garage that was strategically placed to create a quiet inner courtyard. Landscape in the courtyard was informed by the creation of a “stream” to reinforce the confluence theme. Large scuppers from the roof spill stormwater into the stream, creating temporary water fea- tures and rain gardens. A small, forested area represents the head- waters while also softening the architecture and screening the view from the neighbors. The stream meanders through the courtyard’s riparian vegetation and boulders, passing a wildflower meadow and forming small pools on each end of the Eddy Patio, then slowly released back to the earth. 600 square feet of solar panels generate approximately 92% of the electricity needed for the complex. A fully-insulated concrete slab-on-grade provides thermal mass inside the residence, tempering the variability of the indoor environment thereby reducing heating and cooling energy. b Confluence House Cushing Terrell Honorable Mention Award