Stowe Chalet & Landscape

High in the mountains of Vermont, on a 12-acre parcel with incredible views across the valley to the rolling peaks beyond, this single-family residence is being designed for a family who have relocated from New York City to the Nebraska Valley area of Stowe.

‍

The house is planned for a promontory near the top of the site, accessed from the road via a winding driveway that carefully descends the change in elevation. On approach, the building presents as a low-lying dwelling that will blend into the landscape thanks to a green roof. Stone facades and wood cladding will further help to situate the home within its rural setting.

‍

Upon entering, an atrium illuminated by clerestory windows will hold a staircase that wraps around a planter down to the basement gym. The subsequent spaces including a closet, offices, a sauna and a pantry will then unfold in a linear procession towards the view at the end of a corridor. At its terminus, a large open-plan kitchen, dining and living space will have a prime vista and open to a terrace where life can spill outside. A grand double-sided fireplace wrapped in weathering steel will anchor the architecture and protrude through the roof, forming a focal point for the family to gather around either inside or out.

‍

Pale timber will be a recurring material throughout the interiors, complementing white surfaces and concrete floors to keep the spaces light and bright. Sophisticated detailing will add to the contemporary, pared-back aesthetic. Windows are strategically oriented to capture natural views from every ground-floor room, including from office desks and bathtubs.

‍

The two bedrooms and bathrooms will be situated in another bar-shaped volume, placed back to accommodate a partially enclosed meadow and angled so that the views aren’t blocked by the structure in front. Each room will open to the outdoors, onto a covered deck that forms part of a route that fully encircles the property. A lawn to the south and east will extend as far as the level land allows, before it gives way to trees that march down the slope towards the property line.

‍

The scope also encompasses an expansive accessory dwelling unit (ADU) off the forecourt, more information on which can be found here. This project is currently on hold.

‍

Team:

Andrew Curtis  Partner, AIA, MRAIC, OAQ, LEED BD+C

Sophie Robitaille  Partner, ASLA, CSLA, AAPQ

Anne Charbit  Associate, Project Architect, OAQ

Galen Rochon  Architect, OAQ

Teressa Peill  Landscape Architect, AAPQ

Kim Chayer   Architect, OAQ

‍