Alaska: The Final (Architectural) Frontier

phelps burke house exterior side tree lake view

Tags:: Architecture

“I always wanted to live in a glass house,” explains Valerie Phelps, as she stands surrounded by the 40 feet of floor-to-ceiling windows that are the only walls of her living room. Laid out in a 270-degree panorama in front of her is the frosty expanse of Cook Inlet, cascading rocky mountains, and a white sun as big as a dinner plate. It’s 10:30 at night and the sun is stuck in high-noon position. “I mean,” Phelps pauses, her wineglass refracting specks of light throughout the room, “how could you not want look at this view all day?”

— James Nestor

Laid out in a 270-degree panorama in front of the house is the frosty expanse of Cook Inlet, cascading rocky mountains, and a white sun as big as a dinner plate.

Photo by: Dave Lauridsen

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A LEWIS03.30.2009

Who designed that bed and where can I buy one?
Peter Burke04.11.2009

It is actually two sofas that I bolted together. A company in canada makes these incredibly versatile sofas called Chameleon and the back portions fit with posts-in-slots design so we can reconfigure the pieces in a variety of ways.We bought them through a store in Anchorage called Scanhome, one of those danish modern places with higher end and some low end pieces. Look up chameleon sofa on the web
Bonnie11.16.2009

I love that quilt. Is it an antique?
Alaska Rainbow Lodge07.06.2010

There is something about the untamed, breathtaking beauty of Alaska that draws in adventure-seekers and open hearts. There is something different about Alaskans-- those of us that were born here and those of us that should have been.
Trophy Water Guide Service09.01.2010

I've always been amazed that so much life can live in such an inhospitable place! Alaska really is a testament to life and its ability to endure.
maya12.28.2010

the house seems nice - but i feel like i'm missing about half the slideshow! very little inside the house - i'm assuming there's more to it except for an unclear look at the office, the bed of the master bedroom and the living room focused on the glass walls... right? just felt like i didn't really see the house, and so didn't get a chance to be inspired by it either. :( on the other hand: living in alaska and the open-concept as a whole sounds amazing!
Rachel02.02.2011

The architect website has some better pics inside the house: http://www.architizer.com/en_us/projects/view/phelps-burke-residence/981/

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