Mountain Refuge
- Location Jackson, Wyoming
- Design 1994
- Construction 1995-1996
- General Contractor B. Lyle Shafer
- Structural Engineer G & S Engineers
- Geotechnical Engineer Jorgenson Engineering, Inc.
- Design Principal Thomas L Shafer AIA
- Project Architect Paul Audrain
- Project Team David Strandberg, Michael Wilkinson, John Bertram
- Photography Ollie Rinniker
Mountain Refuge is sited on a particularly steep hill with a series of switchbacks connecting it to a neighboring planned community on the outskirts of Jackson, Wyoming. Overlooking the National Elk Refuge to the east and the Teton Mountain Range to the north, the house was designed for a single woman and her child under the strictest of building codes, on a rather tight budget.
The living room features a cathedral ceiling with a bedroom loft that provides an expansive feeling to the otherwise small house. Views out to the national forest lands are maximized through the use of large glass doors and windows, as well as a “Juliet” balcony off the living room which provides a tranquil and private outdoor space.
The public spaces of living room, dining room, and library incorporate the western vernacular through the use of indigenous materials such as Idaho Quartzite and variegated slate. Hand-painted flat-paneled cabinetry, natural wood trim, and forged hardware, reinforce the ruggedness of the home and make a visual connection to the exterior environment.