The house owners are nature enthusiasts who spent years protecting the natural environment in Big Fork. The home they’ve built offers the natural old life activities like swimming, bird watching, forest hiking, reading and relaxation, apart from the modern entertainment that involves a web connection or satellite TV.

“We considered the gentle sloping terrain, natural air-conditioning offered by prevailing breezes, and the ever-present sun. Our observations transformed into an idea of structures with deep open porches that appear to be carved out of the exterior brick volumes, revealing transparent walls that slide open to the rooms inside. The buildings are organized around an open courtyard with a large swimming pool and spa, oriented to take advantage of the prevailing breezes during the hot Texas summers.

”An evaporator cooling system combined with massive adobe walls and careful orientation to capture breezes within the desert climate. The house offers expansive views of the city of Tucson on one side and the Catalina Mountains on the other. The large openings that engage these views are in alignment with prevailing breezes.

The green roof and cut timber walls of Stone Creek Camp provide a direct connection with the nature of this Montana landscape. The rear section provides veranda views of the lake beyond, where sunsets and other scenery are a true upgrade over HDTV. Within, the design is rustic and warm, similar to the feel of warm flannel on a winter day or a campfire at dusk.