Situated among Montana’s snowy hillsides is the SNo Residence, which is a 3,500-square foot home designed by Hughes Umbanhowar Architects. The house complements the surrounding landscape with its carefully chosen materials and color palette. Because of its location, the SNo Residence is every snow skier’s dream come true.

Examining in the Exquisite Exterior

The exterior of the three-bedroom, three and a half bath home boasts natural color selections to help it blend with the naturalness of its surroundings. Dark woods, light stone, and darker metals fit quite nicely when viewed against the backdrop of the wooded hills.

Outdoor decks and breezeways offer plenty of opportunities for outdoor lounging and entertainment. For additional comfort, the residence also has a Jacuzzi and lap pool. Because of the location, the homeowners can enjoy skiing and other snow-related activities when the cold season hits.

Tall evergreens give the home plenty of privacy as does the expansiveness of the land around the house. During the warmer months, the house looks gorgeous among the surrounding greenery. However, the house is also just as beautiful in the winter as its warm wood coloring offers a stark contrast to the fresh, white snow.

Introducing the Incredible Interior

The interior of the home is no less fantastic when compared to the exterior. In fact, the inside of the house is where you will find plenty of comforts and amenities for the family to enjoy. One of the most standout features is the double-sided fireplace in the living room. One side of the fireplace faces the living room, while the other faces a dogtrot room.

Two breezeways connect the three main areas of the home, which consists of the social center, primary bedroom, and extra bedrooms. At one end of the layout, you will find a guest bedroom, bunkroom, and two full bathrooms. You then cross through the breezeway to enter the social center.

In the social area, you will find a living room, kitchen, dining area, half-bath, and lounge before passing through another breezeway to enter the primary bedroom. The primary bedroom has access to yet another full bathroom.

During the warmer months, the glass walls that make up the breezeways between each section open up to extend the living space further. When the temperatures drop, the glass closes, and radiant tubing in the slab heats the home thanks to geothermal ground sources.

Smart glass technology further improves warmth and comfort, thus reducing energy bills. Some of the materials used to construct this unique residence include:

Thermal curtains
Prefabricated wall panels
Prefabricated SIP panels
Polished concrete floors (30% fly ash)
Regional sandstone
ICF wall systems
Fleetwood windows
Steel framing
Corten steel

Overall, the house is a beautiful work of art created by ingenious designers. Most notably, the residence uses the Montana climate to the best of its ability. Even more appealing is that the modernity of the home does not detract from the ruggedness and natural beauty of the landscape. In fact, the home appears just as rugged and natural as its surroundings despite its modern design.

Design by Hughes Umbanhowar Architects