The Crow's Nest

Project Details

Project Description

The Crow’s Nest residence was designed to create a gathering place for generations that takes full advantage of its unique site at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort in the breathtaking Sierra Nevada range. Located at one of Sugar Bowl’s highest reaches – higher than many of the resort’s lifts – the project is a true ski-in, ski-out residence. The Crow’s Nest is designed to express the materials from which it is constructed with an emphasis on natural finishes, with the belief that the beauty of nests is rooted in the way materials come together to form an integrated whole. As a nest, the residence is a product of the landscape that surrounds it, yet distinctly and cohesively recognizable as a discreet form within it. The cabin meets the challenges of heavy annual snowfall and steep, rugged terrain through a board-formed concrete ground floor reminiscent of European ski chalets, while the compact square plan helps to minimize its impact on the land. Ground floor areas, including the ski room, sauna and ski-in/ski-out entry are designed to be nearly or completely buried in snow, with paths dug to the access points, as is the tradition at Sugar Bowl. A particular requirement was to orient the residence to take advantage of the privacy created by the forest uphill, with the goal of celebrating its natural setting while enjoying a maximum of transparency. A double height living room and large window framing the three-story steel staircase – the social crossroads of the residence – further this sense of transparency.