This futuristic ski house is born of its sloped locale
A ski house with a contemporary twist, this is House at 9,000ft by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple in the Intermountain Region of Western USA

Part futuristic pod, part lush modern villa, this ski house in the Intermountain Region of Western USA is certainly eye catching. Yet its form and material selection were derived from rigorous design thinking and a wholly pragmatic approach; welcome to the fittingly named House at 9,000ft by the Canadian studio MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple.
A ski house at 9,000 ft by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple
The project, largely clad in timber, placed on stilts and featuring a main section in the shape of a curved tube (oval, in section), is a clear departure from both the typical mountain log house, and the conventional, luxury ski resorts of the region. Its unusual shape and positioning was developed in direct response to the climatic conditions of the site, and its sharp incline. The plot’s 30 per cent slope meant that raising a level platform and working with that as the main home made sense – while residents can access their front door via a bridge.
Inside, 4,400 sq ft of space allows for five bedrooms, a flowing living area and kitchen, a garage and a mechanical room.
The orientation of the openings not only takes in the striking views created by this crow's nest, 'floating' position; they were also designed with a passive solar strategy in mind. This is displayed especially well in the living room and its continuous 88ft-long window seat – a prime spot for nature gazing while enjoying the warmth of the sun. Meanwhile, the volume's gentle curves work with the region's strong winds.
Red cedar both inside and out, supported by a concrete base and a steel bridge-like frame structure, forms an interior that feels every bit as cocooning as it looks. The timber and soft curves allow this ski house to blend organically with the surrounding nature, at the same time respecting it. 'The environmental ethic that drives this minimalist project is to touch the land lightly,' the architects write.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
Fluid workspaces: is the era of prescriptive office design over?
We discuss evolving workspaces and track the shape-shifting interiors of the 21st century. If options are what we’re after in office design, it looks like we’ve got them
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
This collection of slow furniture is a powerful ode to time
A serene exhibition of David Dolcini's 'Time-made' collection has fast-tracked its place into our hearts and homes
By Ifeoluwa Adedeji Published
-
Is the Pragma P1 the most sustainable watch yet?
Geneva-based brand Pragma combines industrial design with real sustainable credentials
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Remembering architect David M Childs (1941-2025) and his New York skyline legacy
David M Childs, a former chairman of architectural powerhouse SOM, has passed away. We celebrate his professional achievements
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The upcoming Zaha Hadid Architects projects set to transform the horizon
A peek at Zaha Hadid Architects’ future projects, which will comprise some of the most innovative and intriguing structures in the world
By Anna Solomon Published
-
Frank Lloyd Wright’s last house has finally been built – and you can stay there
Frank Lloyd Wright’s final residential commission, RiverRock, has come to life. But, constructed 66 years after his death, can it be considered a true ‘Wright’?
By Anna Solomon Published
-
Heritage and conservation after the fires: what’s next for Los Angeles?
In the second instalment of our 'Rebuilding LA' series, we explore a way forward for historical treasures under threat
By Mimi Zeiger Published
-
Why this rare Frank Lloyd Wright house is considered one of Chicago’s ‘most endangered’ buildings
The JJ Walser House has sat derelict for six years. But preservationists hope the building will have a vibrant second act
By Anna Fixsen Published
-
Buy a slice of California’s midcentury modern history with this 1955 Pasadena house
Conrad Buff II Residence has been fully restored and updated for the 21st century
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Step inside a writer's Richard Neutra-designed apartment in Los Angeles
Michael Webb, invites us into his LA home – a showcase of modernist living
By Michael Webb Published
-
Join our world tour of contemporary homes across five continents
We take a world tour of contemporary homes, exploring case studies of how we live; we make five stops across five continents
By Ellie Stathaki Published