hughes umbanhowar designs big timber riverside with rugged wood and glass

set within an clearing of cottonwoods in the rugged big-sky country of big timber, montana, the big timber riverside residence designed by california and florida-based studio hughes umbanhowar injects modernity and functionality into a western landscape. glass, steel and wood build up the contemporary home which is the only structure on the 2000 acre property with views of the nearby mountain range referred to as the crazies. the nature of the seasonal flooding that occurs at the adjacent yellowstone river tributary has led the entirety of the construction to sit atop a porous 30″-tall plinth which allows for the passage of water and sits well above the flood line.

the home sits partially over the river
all images courtesy of hughes umbanhowar

given the vastness of the site, privacy from public roadways did not pose a problem, leading the designers at hughes umbanhowar to utilize glass partitions more freely. a two-story wood-clad structure faces the entry, concealing the transparent glass wing that intersects it, together forming a T-shaped floor plan. raw materials are left in their original conditions as much as possible forming a tactile home of rich colors and textures, from the large wooden posts that serve as columns to the raw steel sheets that clad the central hearth. the upper level enjoys vast views of the landscape while the lower finds itself more immediately connected to the outside within a glass enclosure of operable doors that open onto exterior patios. 

the structure sits within an naturally overgrown clearing of cottonwood tress

raised 30″ above grade, the house accounts for the annual flooding

natural materials and plenty of glass ensure a light-filled interior boasting a rugged character

upper story bedrooms enjoy distant views

lower-level living area with 360-degree views

at the convergence of both forms glass meets wood to separate the private from the public areas

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