FALL CREEK RESIDENCE
From dark and confining to comfortable and bright
Teton County, Wyoming • 4,000 sq. ft.
Design Team: Chris Moulder, AIA; Ben Weisbeck, Bryan Gleason, Andrew Dillion
This home represents the most extensive remodel that both Dubbe Moulder Architects and the contractor had ever completed. Constructed in the 1970’s, the existing house was a hodge-podge of materials, shapes and a dozen elevations that created a two-bedroom log cabin with low, cramped ceilings and a dark entrance hidden under a flat observation roof. The home held sentimental value to the current owners, who inherited it from their uncle, so their original design program was quite modest; they wanted to add on a master suite, an attached two-car garage and remodel the kitchen.
Once demolition occurred, the horrors of rodent infestation, water issues and poor prior construction practices became evident. The construction crew uncovered mouse nests, squirrel carcasses, and other signs of habitation in the walls and ceilings. In the kitchen they found an eight foot section of ceiling that sloped three inches. Then the entire job was forced to shut down for three weeks for toxic black mold mitigation.
Worst of all, when the contractors removed a wood-framed wall in the basement, they found that the studs had been scribed to abut an unreinforced concrete block foundation wall that was bulging, lacked mortar and was on the brink of failing. Given that the mountain top home exists in a seismic zone (the same as Los Angeles) and is prone to weathering strong wind gusts and four feet of wet snow, it was a wonder that the house was still standing.
While the original structure was jacked up to put in proper reinforced poured concrete walls, the architect and contractor were able to discuss all of the uncovered issues with the owners and the decision was made to scrap 85% of the existing structure. An octagon-shaped room and part of the basement slab was all that was kept.
Starting fresh gave the design team and the owners the opportunity to redesign the home, creating an open floor plan with many outdoor entertaining areas. The first floor now includes an attached two-car garage, an inviting entry and an enlarged great room and kitchen. The surviving octagonal room was totally revamped, with the ceiling raised three feet and the floor lowered by a foot, resulting in an airy media/sitting room with a panorama of mountain views.
On the second floor, a new master suite was constructed over the garage, and an office and an en-suite guest bedroom were added.
Originally, the basement was just for storage and mechanical equipment. Now the walkout basement maximizes the sloping lot, adds additional living space without increasing the footprint of the home and creates another level of outdoor living.
Creating the home anew resolved plumbing and electrical issues, allowed the walls and floors to be plumb, and produced a structure that is code-compliant, with a new concrete foundation and structure that can withstand high winds and snow loads. No longer dark and confining, the entire home boasts large windows that allow natural light to brighten the interior and which frame the picturesque mountain-top vistas.