
Seal House
Stinson Beach, CA
Tucked into a valley beside a river, this house is a contemporary interpretation of the classic mountain retreat. Designed for an architect, it takes a quiet, nuanced approach—pairing natural materials with sloping roof planes and expansive window bays to both frame and withstand the rugged alpine beauty of Ketchum, Idaho.
The residence is composed of multiple structures, each one oriented toward a different natural feature of the site: a grove of Aspen trees to the west, the Unnamed Butte to the north, and the Warm Springs Creek to the east. On the exterior, natural wood cladding pairs with board-and-batten detailing that shifts with the changing seasons. Inside, bald cypress siding wraps the walls and ceilings. In the dining room, floor-to-ceiling glass doors surround a monumental board-formed concrete fireplace, while flagstone floors lend an earthy texture.