Caju by CLB Architects
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Location: Teton Village, WyomingProject size: 3,250 square feet
Program: A young family in Miami, with roots in Brazil and a deep appreciation for the outdoors, sought a serene retreat at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. They envisioned an intimate and welcoming house where their family and occasional guests could connect and unwind. Located on one of the last undeveloped parcels in Teton Village, the site is defined by dense timber, rugged topography, and striking views of the Snake River Valley and surrounding peaks. The heavily wooded and boulder-strewn lot required a sensitive approach, minimizing tree removal and site disturbance.
Design Solution: The house is both embedded within and hovers above the landscape. A two-story layout strategically positions the main living areas on the upper floor to maximize views, while the lower level is where practical spaces, such as a garage, mudroom, and gym, are located. The upper level features an open plan living, dining, and kitchen area along with four bedrooms. A perforated stainless steel floating staircase serves as both a functional and sculptural element, visually connecting the two levels and allowing light to filter through it. A bedroom wing supported by slender columns touches the hillside lightly, preserving the integrity of the terrain. Outdoor spaces, including a rear metal grate deck that encircles a pair of aspen trees and a front deck that extends from the kitchen to offer valley views, further enhance the house’s integration with its environment.
Photo © Matthew Millman
Structure and Materials: Materiality is at the core of the project’s identity, with a palette restricted to steel, wood, and concrete. The house’s name—Caju—is borrowed from a Brazilian fruit with an orange shell, echoing the house’s weathering steel exterior. Carved out sections, clad in larch, provide a warm contrast and continue inside to walls and ceilings, creating a cohesive look. Concrete floors and stainless steel accents round out the palette.
The structural system for the two-story volume primarily consists of traditional wood and steel framing on concrete foundation walls. Prefabricated wood trusses support the asymmetrical gable roof and integrated gutters. A series of micro-channels that hold up the southeast end of the building provide texture and rhythm in lieu of a singular column.
Additional InformationCompletion date: July 2024Site size: .51 acresTotal construction cost: WithheldClient/Owner: Withheld
Photos © Matthew Millman
Drawings courtesy CLB Architects; click to enlarge
Credits
ArchitectCLB Architects215 S King St. Jackson, WY (307) 733-4000clbarchitects.com
Project TeamEric Logan, partner; Andy Ankeny, partner; Jeffrey Johnston, project manager; Maria James, senior designer
EngineersCivil: Nelson EngineeringStructural: KL&A EngineeringM/e/p: Axiom Engineering GroupGeotechnical: Nelson Engineering
ConsultantsLandscape: AgrostisLighting: Helius Lighting GroupSpecifications: IBIMArchitectural Metal Fabrication: Drophouse Design
General ContractorWind River Builders
PhotographerMatthew Millman
Specifications
Exterior CladdingMetal panels: Wade Metal Works (custom fabricated Cortensteel panels); Steel West (MC steel columns/louvers)Precast concrete: Carson Concrete (smooth formed cone tie)Wood: Pioneer Millworks
RoofingMetal: Salt River Roofing (corten standing seam roof)Other roofing: Salt River Roofing (PVC membrane); Steel West (custom plate eave steel)
WindowsKolbe
DoorsWood doors: Willow Creek Woodworks (larch T&G doors)
HardwareDoor hardware: Designer Doorware (flinders)
Interior FinishesCabinetwork and custom woodwork: Willow Creek Woodworks (larch veneer millwork at typical millwork; Balthaup (stainless steel cabinets and countertops)Paneling: Pioneer Millworks (larch 1×6 T&G); Accoya (1×6 T&G at showers)
PlumbingFaucets: MGSSinks: Balthuap
