RoTo Architects, Inc. - Gompertz Residence

RoTo Architects, Inc.
Gompertz Residence
Paradise Valley, Montana

Photo courtesy RoTo

The site consists of 14 acres at the edge of the cobbled alluvial fan of the Absoroka Mountains in Paradise Valley, Montana. The house, designed by RoTo Architects, sits on the edge of the only sheltering feature, an ancient bank of the now receded Yellowstone River, in a valley famous for its winds, "Marlboro Country" views, and storms. The land is treeless, and the perfectly parabolic bank that dissects the property in a north south line anchors the project. The owner's original program called for a part time residence to be constructed in two parts.

Photo courtesy RoTo
Site Panorama

Model photo courtesy RoTo

The first scheme was defined by a mirroring of the arcing bank, and the creation of a "hull" that hovered just below its crest and opened to the sun and staggering vistas to the east and south. Both phases of the original design were massed low and horizontal.The aspects of the place, the wind, the sky, and storms, compelled the owner to move back to the valley after a nearly five year absence. He poetically described the phenomenology of climbing up to experience the sky, rather than viewing it from the earth. A part of the house, he said, needed to climb above its horizon. A neighboring silo provided his example.
After spending some time searching for a silo that could be reclaimed as a dwelling, the architects and owner opted to build one instead. As explained by the architects:
We decided that although we would not mimic the horizontal character of the valley floor, we needed to avoid the status quo massing of the other valley dwellings, which tend to have blocky proportions. Although in some sense stylistly, contextual, they lack any connection to earth or sky. The silhouette of such a typical two story structure on a broad footprint seemed to block a maximum quantity of sky. We speculated on the character of the region's grain silos and elevators, and mimicked their formal strategy of "axis mundi" and minimal, but dramatic "skyprint".

Photo courtesy RoTo

The View Silo was designed to occupy the smallest practical footprint of earth and the narrowest possible sliver of sky. The building tapers, and appears to twist in a form that mirrors ancient river bank. Should Phase II (the hull) ever be constructed, it will continue this warping arc in a low, horizontally attenuated mass to the south of the silo.

Section Drawing courtesy RoTo

The approximately 1,500 square foot program is organized vertically. Entry is at grade, with sleeping spaces below the crest of the bank and partially embedded in the earth. Immediately above are the work and primary living spaces. A mezzanine for cooking and eating is located within the tapering double height volume. Above this, the stair tower becomes open to the sky and is terminated in a rooftop observatory. The slatted perimeter provides a filtered 360 degree view, but tends to force the eye upward to the sky, which is the focus of this space.

Model photo courtesy RoTo

The building is clad on the south and east planar walls by a layered system of 2 by 2 pine slats reclaimed from pickling barrels. These verticals that vary in hue from a silvery gray to purplish black, are being layered over water proof brick red asphalt roll roofing. The surface of the roll roofing is separated by a 2 inch gap so that all fasteners are invisible; the spacing between the 2 by 2's is typically * inch, but expands to 2 * inches to differentiate the elevations, and to vary amounts of surface color and patterns of light and shade to openings behind the continuous surface of slats. These surfaces will have the depth of color of a faded red barn. In consideration of the initially part time occupation of the house, to protect its openings from severe storms, and to present the quiet uniform silhouette of the local grain silos, the building's fenestration can be completely shuttered. When opened, the shutters provide a variety of sun and shading appropriate to the orientation of the facades. When closed, they will unify the structure against the backdrop of mountains and sky. The hope is that when vacant, the form will not be seen as an empty house, but rather a kind of geologic uplift that dissipates into and interlocks with the sky.

Elevation Drawing courtesy RoTo
South Elevation

Elevation Drawing courtesy RoTo
West Elevation

Elevation Drawing courtesy RoTo
North Elevation

Elevation Drawing courtesy RoTo
East Elevation

Design start: September 1999
Construction start: September 2000
Completion: Fall 2001

Owner/Contractor: Ron Gompertz
Architect: RoTo Architects, Inc.
Principals:
Michael Rotondi
Clark Stevens, AIA
Collaborators:
Ben Ives
Dave Kitazaki
Kirby Smith
Team:
Carrie DiFiore
Eric Meglassen
Consultants: MT Structural, Bozeman, Montana
John Schlegelmilch, Principal

RoTo Architects arcspace features





				Features
		RoTo Architects, Inc. Gompertz Residence Paradise Valley, Montana Photo courtesy RoTo The site consists of 14 acres at the edge of the cobbled alluvial fan of the Absoroka Mountains in Paradise Valley, Montana. The house, designed by RoTo Architects, sits on the edge of the only sheltering feature, an ancient bank of the now receded Yellowstone River, in a valley famous for its winds, "Marlboro Country" views, and storms. The land is treeless, and the perfectly parabolic bank that dissects the property in a north south line anchors the project. The owner's original program called for a part time residence to be constructed in two parts. Photo courtesy RoTo Site Panorama Model photo courtesy RoTo The first scheme was defined by a mirroring of the arcing bank, and the creation of a "hull" that hovered just below its crest and opened to the sun and staggering vistas to the east and south. Both phases of the original design were massed low and horizontal.The aspects of the place, the wind, the sky, and storms, compelled the owner to move back to the valley after a nearly five year absence. He poetically described the phenomenology of climbing up to experience the sky, rather than viewing it from the earth. A part of the house, he said, needed to climb above its horizon. A neighboring silo provided his example. After spending some time searching for a silo that could be reclaimed as a dwelling, the architects and owner opted to build one instead. As explained by the architects: We decided that although we would not mimic the horizontal character of the valley floor, we needed to avoid the status quo massing of the other valley dwellings, which tend to have blocky proportions. Although in some sense stylistly, contextual, they lack any connection to earth or sky. The silhouette of such a typical two story structure on a broad footprint seemed to block a maximum quantity of sky. We speculated on the character of the region's grain silos and elevators, and mimicked their formal strategy of "axis mundi" and minimal, but dramatic "skyprint". Photo courtesy RoTo The View Silo was designed to occupy the smallest practical footprint of earth and the narrowest possible sliver of sky. The building tapers, and appears to twist in a form that mirrors ancient river bank. Should Phase II (the hull) ever be constructed, it will continue this warping arc in a low, horizontally attenuated mass to the south of the silo. Section Drawing courtesy RoTo The approximately 1,500 square foot program is organized vertically. Entry is at grade, with sleeping spaces below the crest of the bank and partially embedded in the earth. Immediately above are the work and primary living spaces. A mezzanine for cooking and eating is located within the tapering double height volume. Above this, the stair tower becomes open to the sky and is terminated in a rooftop observatory. The slatted perimeter provides a filtered 360 degree view, but tends to force the eye upward to the sky, which is the focus of this space. Model photo courtesy RoTo The building is clad on the south and east planar walls by a layered system of 2 by 2 pine slats reclaimed from pickling barrels. These verticals that vary in hue from a silvery gray to purplish black, are being layered over water proof brick red asphalt roll roofing. The surface of the roll roofing is separated by a 2 inch gap so that all fasteners are invisible; the spacing between the 2 by 2's is typically * inch, but expands to 2 * inches to differentiate the elevations, and to vary amounts of surface color and patterns of light and shade to openings behind the continuous surface of slats. These surfaces will have the depth of color of a faded red barn. In consideration of the initially part time occupation of the house, to protect its openings from severe storms, and to present the quiet uniform silhouette of the local grain silos, the building's fenestration can be completely shuttered. When opened, the shutters provide a variety of sun and shading appropriate to the orientation of the facades. When closed, they will unify the structure against the backdrop of mountains and sky. The hope is that when vacant, the form will not be seen as an empty house, but rather a kind of geologic uplift that dissipates into and interlocks with the sky. Elevation Drawing courtesy RoTo South Elevation Elevation Drawing courtesy RoTo West Elevation Elevation Drawing courtesy RoTo North Elevation Elevation Drawing courtesy RoTo East Elevation Design start: September 1999 Construction start: September 2000 Completion: Fall 2001 Owner/Contractor: Ron Gompertz Architect: RoTo Architects, Inc. Principals: Michael Rotondi Clark Stevens, AIA Collaborators: Ben Ives Dave Kitazaki Kirby Smith Team: Carrie DiFiore Eric Meglassen Consultants: MT Structural, Bozeman, Montana John Schlegelmilch, Principal RoTo Architects arcspace features