Stowe Chalet

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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