CONDUITS TO DREAM ARCHITECTURE
by Ben Bradley
Every custom home project shares a common aim: to bring a unique vision to life. For many, the physical parameters of a given parcel drive the critical aspects of that vision. Perhaps the home will use its orientation on a lot to capture a particular vantage point or make use of the land’s physical features to guide its final elevations. In the case of architect Michael Brunelle’s recent project in The Valley Club, the two acre property’s expansive, uninterrupted views and extraordinary access to natural light from every aspect set into motion a shared vision to create a design that maximized those features.
For Brunelle and his team, each project begins the same way. He spends time with the clients to develop trust and a deep understanding of their most important priorities. From this jumping off point, Brunelle can begin to piece together his architectural point of view as he transforms the client’s ideas into tangible design. “We try to be the conduit to get the client the architecture they’re dreaming of,” says Brunelle. “The final design is as much the client’s as it is mine.”
In the case of a Valley Club project, the preliminary discussions and brainstorming sessions with the client made two guiding principles clear. First, the design should serve to bring in as much of the ample sunlight as possible, along with the views of the surrounding ridgelines and adjacent golf course. Second, the space should accommodate entertaining and large family gatherings, even going so far as to promote social interaction through the development of distinctive, inviting common areas.
“We try to be the conduit to get the client the architecture they’re dreaming of. The final design is as much the client’s as it is mine.”
–Michael Brunelle,
Architect, AIA, NCARB,
Brunelle Architects
The overarching aesthetic for the final design Brunelle arrived upon is contemporary, with multiple eye catching flat roof lines and textured concrete site walls, cleverly breaking up the outdoor space. Brunelle has managed to achieve a clean, modern look while masterfully maintaining an inviting warmth. From the rooms of the house, a distant vista of Bald Mountain and the southern slopes of Seattle Ridge can be seen, along with the steep shoulder of Carbonate Mountain to the west and the sagebrush covered foot hills of the Pioneer Mountains to the east.
In its first objective of welcoming the sun from every angle, the design succeeds resoundingly. Though perhaps a nearly universal requisite of all custom homes in scenic locales, the emphasis put on the endeavor to bring the outside in could not be overstated by the homeowner. A plethora of floor-to-ceiling and counter-to-ceiling windows invite the light into every room of the home, bathing them in natural light. From the exterior, the multitude of windows abound but are counterbalanced by clean vertical wood siding contrasting in a muted gray against the low profile black window casings.
To account for the homeowners’ penchant for entertaining and a multitude of family gatherings, including visiting kids and grandkids, Brunelle used two strategies to find harmony between the shared and private spaces throughout the home. On the one hand, it was important to create comfortable private spaces to ensure the comfort of every guest. However, particular care was taken to keep the rooms from being so big that one would never wish to leave. In this way, the design of the space fosters social interaction between family members. The shared portions of the home have also been
thoughtfully laid out to include variably sized spaces and for both grand gatherings and secluded, intimate conversations. Even the decidedly voluminous great room of the home finds itself perfectly in scale and never overwhelming. This approach was applied to the outdoor spaces as well, which gives every corner of the property visual intrigue and variance, and every guest will find a perfect place to feel welcome and at ease.
To bring the project to life, an exceptionally talented team was assembled consisting of Magleby Construction, Latham Interiors, and landscape design veteran Dean Hernandez of Garden space Design. The results of the final home highlight just how well all the members of the team, including the client, worked so well in concert. One particular element of the build exemplified this incredible working relationship. While in the midst of the framing process, an idea occurred to the team that would further leverage the natural beauty of the surrounding scenery: a pair of brilliant roof decks. Without missing a beat, Brunelle and his team set to work revising the plans to integrate the new outdoor spaces.
“It was really such an enjoyable process all the way through, just having a client that could express their vision while also respecting the opinions of everyone else on the team.”
–Michael Brunelle,
Architect, AIA, NCARB,
Brunelle Architects
Magleby’s team was able to continue the framing uninterrupted, and the design schemes of Latham Interiors and Garden space Design seamlessly extended into the new features. The collaborative, trusting nature of the relationships built within the entire team made a simple process of something that could otherwise have posed a major hurdle. “It was really such an enjoyable process all the way through,” says Brunelle, “just having a client that could express their vision while also respecting the opinions of everyone else on the team.”
The polished interiors and immaculately landscaped grounds put the finishing touches on an extraordinary project, proving that the sum of the parts truly can equal more when each and every stakeholder trusts one another and is free to do what they do best. At the heart of its distinctive design and behind every flawlessly executed detail, the original vision is wholly intact and shining through. In every measurable way, the latest addition to The Valley Club exceeded all original expectations and will continue to do so for its owners and guests for many years to come.
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