Blessed by stunning mountain views and an alluring wilderness all around, it’s little wonder that the project brief for this 13-acre site in unincorporated Teton County evolved from an elevated camping platform to a custom home designed to properly capture the drama of the site.

By the time the clients, an outdoorsy family of four from San Francisco, reached out to Sausalito and Los Angeles–based firm RO | ROCKETT DESIGN to fashion the quiet retreat, they had already completed a 90-foot square building pad on an elevated section of the property.

The owners had worked with the US Army Corps of Engineers to minimize impact on the site, located in a listed wetlands area.

Consequently, the architects also aimed for a minimal building footprint.

“We designed a compact, efficient layout and looked to build ‘up’ instead of ‘out.’ This helped us stay light on the ground and allowed the primary programs of the house to rise above the willow scrub to take in all the site has to offer,” explains the firm of the 3,300-square-foot home that appears to float above the landscape.

Spread out across two floors, the design of the three-bedroom, three-bath house was largely shaped by careful site studies and the region’s diverse ecosystem that spans a seasonally fluctuating wetland to a pond with a winding spring creek to the south.

“The Grand Tetons became visible to the east and the family could more easily observe the moose trekking through the property while perched above the vegetation,” add the architects.

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To take advantage of expansive views, the main living area and master suite are located on the upper floor of the top-heavy house. Full-height glazing and a covered porch wraps around the raised volume.

“The material palette of earthen rock and stained wood attempts to tie the architecture to the tones, materials, and textures of the region, all to help create an architecture that is derived from the site,” the architects conclude.

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: RO | ROCKETT DESIGN / @rorockettdesign

Builder/General Contractor: Volcko Construction

Structural Engineer: KL&A

Landscape Design Company: Place Landscape Architects

Interior Design: Kendall Wilkinson Design