Set at the base of a dramatic mountain outcropping, this forward-thinking custom home balances beauty, wellness, sustainability, and innovation. Inspired by the natural environment of the heavily treed site, along with the organic architecture of John Lautner and artist James Turrell’s concept of framing light, it engages seamlessly with the surroundings in a contemporary manner.

Keeping progressive, sustainable design at the forefront and with manufacturing and assembly in mind, prefabricated glulam assembly was specified for speed and efficiency of mass timber construction. Parametric modeling, virtual reality rendering, and physical modeling were implemented to explore design iterations and advance the creative integrity of the architecture.

Primary challenges included a steep grade directly adjacent to the site at the base of the mountain and close proximity to a neighboring unit. In response, a dramatic sloping roof opens the volume toward the sky while editing views of the adjacent building.

Exterior materials and elements include vertically oriented wood rainscreen referencing the wooded site, aluminum cladding at windows, glass guardrails at decking, and an integrated solar shingle roof system.

Beyond the entry, an ample community room designed for purposes including intellectual gatherings features flagstone flooring and a high, intricately beamed wood ceiling with clustered skylights. An iconic architectural expression, a curved, glazed curtain wall wraps the area to highlight the mountain view. Through sliding glass doors, the interior opens to a patio and tiered amphitheater carved into the landscape.

Main level spaces include ample kitchen, bar, and dining areas as well as dual bedroom suites. The upper level accommodates a pair of guest bedroom suites, one with a roof top deck encouraging connection to nature. With an emphasis on relaxation, a virtual wellness retreat complete with a therapeutic thermal bath and spa, and access to an outdoor grotto garden, is located at the basement level, which also houses a theater/game room.

Set within the Walla Walla Valley, one of the State of Washington’s most prolific wine regions, this contemporary residence for a repeat client (passionate winemakers) is rooted in and responds to the surrounding agrarian landscape. Progressive yet contextual in design for the area, the clean, refined lines of the overall structure ensures that it settles unobtrusively onto the gently sloping 10–acre site.

Primary materials were purposefully specified. Gray metal emulates the abundant basalt rock indigenous to the area (and that contributes to the quality of grapes used for winemaking). Cedar recalls the color of wood stakes supporting grapevines in the surrounding vineyard.

Sensitive to the intended lifestyle of the client-family and with the intent of capturing views of the Blue Mountains to the east, multiple structures were integrated into the surrounding landscape. Anchored by a new two-level volume reminiscent of historic buildings inherent to the area, three extruded gable structures appear to emerge from the vineyard. The gable structures were pushed and pulled around the site to meet programmatic needs, and smaller block volumes were purposely designed to link the four structures together.

Two of the gable structures, encompassing kitchen, dining, and living areas in one and the primary bed and spa-like bathroom suite in the other, provide single-level living. The third functions as a garage. The two-level metal volume accommodates a pair of guest suites on the ground level with a gym and office on the upper level. Wine storage and mechanical areas are below grade.

Outdoor rooms, green space, a sculpture garden and a pool area are thoughtfully designed between the structures, taking into consideration sun, wind and views. Access is through the surrounding vineyard via a pebbled drive, on axis with the main gable volume, and a central courtyard designed for outdoor gatherings and food trucks.

Every material, furniture selection, and light fixture was chosen as an extension of the architectural idea.

Almost as difficult as reinventing the wheel – architecturally speaking – is transforming a typology: taking a building style so familiar as to be embedded in the collective memory, and doing it differently. And not for novelty’s sake, but rather to reinterpret a beloved historic genre through the considerations of contemporary family life, changing aesthetic tastes, and sustainable building practice.

Such were the challenges faced by R+B in the design of Woodlands, a residence nestled in a magnificent valley, beside a pristine lake reflecting sublime mountain views. The architectural model was the national park lodge, a typology associated with rustic grandeur, fast friendship, and the celebration of the American West. All of these traditions remained relevant to the house’s design. But both outside and within, we transformed the late 19th/early 20th century public model to suit the predilections of a modern family in a 21st-century private home.

The austere front façade hews closely to the ‘parkitecture’ ideal, with only a back-tilted ‘battered’ stone wall surrounding the front door – suggestive of a temple portal – to subvert expectations. In back, conversely, we took the post-and-beam motif typically associated with traditional lodge interiors and transformed it into an exoskeleton, in the form of a gracious, pergola-style covered porch running the full length of the back elevation, and continuing along the house’s eastern end.

On the interior – replacing a park lodge’s typical aesthetic and social cacophony – the cross-axial plan avoids visual noise and decorative kitsch: apart from the dramatic view from the front door, through the entry and double-height living room, to the lake, the layout is soothingly traditional, with discrete rooms unfolding in a relaxed rhythm; the interior architecture, executed in robust natural materials, offers the clarity and simplicity associated with modern design and contemporary living.

The project incorporates such advanced strategies as maximizing thermal comfort and energy efficiency, via geothermal and solar components, while addressing resiliency and well-being. Filtered outdoor air circulates throughout the interior, finished with natural, non-toxic materials; construction decisions favored lower carbon materials and structural systems, prioritizing wood over steel, and natural insulation over foam. The outcome is a house that not only supports the aesthetic and domestic aspirations of its residents, but stands as a paradigm for near net-zero sustainable design.

Set within fifty acres of sage-covered meadow, with expansive views toward Colorado’s Elk Moutnains, Lap House replaces an outmoded 1980s residence whose nine level changes no longer supported the rhythms of contemporary family life. The project presented a challenge central to R+B’s residential practice: how to create a home of significant scale that feels both deeply grounded in its landscape and intimately attuned to the values, rituals, and aspirations of the people who inhabit it.

The resulting residence is at once substantial and serene. It holds its place within the vastness of the meadow yet continually yields to the surrounding mountain landscape through carefully framed views, broad expanses of glass, and a quiet material palette. Clad in Danish brick whose handmade irregularity lends warmth and depth, the exterior recalls both the rugged character of the land and the simplicity of rural building traditions. Laid in overlapping horizontal courses reminiscent of wood shiplap, the masonry gives the home a grounded, tactile presence, while allowing its form to feel calm, composed, and enduring.

Inside, the architecture becomes increasingly personal. Walls wrapped in natural white oak create an atmosphere of warmth and tranquility, establishing a soft counterpoint to the home’s monumental setting. Throughout, architecture, interiors, landscape, art, and craft are drawn together into a single, holistic vision. A chandelier inspired by elements discovered by R+B in a Milanese chapel, a custom hand-loomed Japanese wall tapestry, and anodized Italian tile surrounding the fireplaces reflect a pan-cultural sensibility shaped not by ornament, but by meaning, memory, and material resonance.

For the family, the home needed to honor a love of music, art, natural beauty, and fine craft while remaining rooted in modesty, faith, and genuineness. That spirit is most powerfully expressed in the home’s signature: a Venetian-made stained-glass guardrail spanning the full length of the double-height living room mezzanine. With a pattern derived from a loved musical score, the piece is both technically ambitious and quietly devotional, an act of craft that transforms a functional element into a deeply personal expression of belief and belonging.

In the tradition of the bottega, R+B’s work on this project extended far beyond architecture alone. The firm designed the architecture, interiors, landscape, and nearly every detail of the home, from furnishings and fixtures to table settings and glassware. An extensive art program installed works from over 40 international artists and reveals a cohesive and collected sensibility in every corner of the home. The result is not a house assembled from parts, but a total environment in which every scale of design contributes to a coherent experience of place.

A Legacy Redefined: Modernizing a Home to Embrace Views, Light, and Sustainability

Nestled in a tranquil neighborhood, this remodel transforms a legacy home perched above a dramatic river valley with sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. The design reimagines the property while respecting its historical roots, maintaining its existing structure and zoning non-conformities, and artfully balancing a seamless blend of modernity and timeless charm. The steep slopes and natural landscape are preserved, ensuring the design harmonizes with the environment while offering a private and serene retreat for its residents.

Design Goals and Objectives

The primary objective was to preserve the home’s breathtaking views and its unique interplay between public and private spaces while improving circulation, natural light, and functionality. By introducing a lighter, refined material palette, the interiors are brightened and imbued with a modern yet enduring aesthetic. Iterative design methods, including advanced rendering and VR tools, guided the evolution of the project, allowing the design team to distill the concept into a cohesive expression of form and function. Trust from the client, paired with the design team’s vision, led to the creation of a space that is both sophisticated and inviting—a sanctuary for family living and entertaining.

Challenges and Solutions

Phased construction played a pivotal role in maintaining the project’s momentum and adhering to tight schedules. Dividing the scope into manageable change orders minimized review times, keeping the process efficient. The site’s constraints—including steep slopes and existing approvals—required careful planning. The design team crafted the exterior approach to avoid disrupting sensitive terrains and strategic landscaping enhanced the transition between public and private zones. Close collaboration between designers, contractors, and building officials streamlined the process and delivered a polished, innovative result.

Sustainability

Sustainability drives the heart of this remodel, aiming for near net-zero energy performance. A ground source heat pump system and a large solar array provide efficient heating and cooling while reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources. Zoned HVAC systems allow precise control, ensuring minimal energy waste. Extensive insulation upgrades and passive design strategies, such as maximizing daylight and natural ventilation, further enhance the home’s energy efficiency. Deconstruction techniques during demolition ensured significant material reuse and recycling, reducing environmental impact of this remodel and fostering a circular economy approach to construction.

A Celebration of Form and Function

At its core, this project is a celebration of architectural refinement. A distilled palette of modern wood, metal, and stone carries through the design, creating a seamless dialogue between interior and exterior. Key features such as the reimagined staircases and enlarged entertaining spaces enhance the home’s fluidity and function, while technological advancements modernize lighting and control systems for effortless living. This remodel epitomizes the potential of thoughtful design: respecting the past while reimagining the future, creating a home that is as innovative as it is timeless.

This project is more than a remodel; it is a statement—a legacy preserved and elevated for generations to come.

Set at the base of a dramatic mountain outcropping, this forward-thinking custom home balances beauty, wellness, sustainability, and innovation. Inspired by the natural environment of the heavily treed site, along with the organic architecture of John Lautner and artist James Turrell’s concept of framing light, it engages seamlessly with the surroundings in a contemporary manner.

Keeping progressive, sustainable design at the forefront and with manufacturing and assembly in mind, prefabricated glulam assembly was specified for speed and efficiency of mass timber construction. Parametric modeling, virtual reality rendering, and physical modeling were implemented to explore design iterations and advance the creative integrity of the architecture.

Primary challenges included a steep grade directly adjacent to the site at the base of the mountain and close proximity to a neighboring unit. In response, a dramatic sloping roof opens the volume toward the sky while editing views of the adjacent building.

Exterior materials and elements include vertically oriented wood rainscreen referencing the wooded site, aluminum cladding at windows, glass guardrails at decking, and an integrated solar shingle roof system.

Beyond the entry, an ample community room designed for purposes including intellectual gatherings features flagstone flooring and a high, intricately beamed wood ceiling with clustered skylights. An iconic architectural expression, a curved, glazed curtain wall wraps the area to highlight the mountain view. Through sliding glass doors, the interior opens to a patio and tiered amphitheater carved into the landscape.

Main level spaces include ample kitchen, bar, and dining areas as well as dual bedroom suites. The upper level accommodates a pair of guest bedroom suites, one with a roof top deck encouraging connection to nature. With an emphasis on relaxation, a virtual wellness retreat complete with a therapeutic thermal bath and spa, and access to an outdoor grotto garden, is located at the basement level, which also houses a theater/game room.

Set within the Walla Walla Valley, one of the State of Washington’s most prolific wine regions, this contemporary residence for a repeat client (passionate winemakers) is rooted in and responds to the surrounding agrarian landscape. Progressive yet contextual in design for the area, the clean, refined lines of the overall structure ensures that it settles unobtrusively onto the gently sloping 10–acre site.

Primary materials were purposefully specified. Gray metal emulates the abundant basalt rock indigenous to the area (and that contributes to the quality of grapes used for winemaking). Cedar recalls the color of wood stakes supporting grapevines in the surrounding vineyard.

Sensitive to the intended lifestyle of the client-family and with the intent of capturing views of the Blue Mountains to the east, multiple structures were integrated into the surrounding landscape. Anchored by a new two-level volume reminiscent of historic buildings inherent to the area, three extruded gable structures appear to emerge from the vineyard. The gable structures were pushed and pulled around the site to meet programmatic needs, and smaller block volumes were purposely designed to link the four structures together.

Two of the gable structures, encompassing kitchen, dining, and living areas in one and the primary bed and spa-like bathroom suite in the other, provide single-level living. The third functions as a garage. The two-level metal volume accommodates a pair of guest suites on the ground level with a gym and office on the upper level. Wine storage and mechanical areas are below grade.

Outdoor rooms, green space, a sculpture garden and a pool area are thoughtfully designed between the structures, taking into consideration sun, wind and views. Access is through the surrounding vineyard via a pebbled drive, on axis with the main gable volume, and a central courtyard designed for outdoor gatherings and food trucks.