Ski On Home

Single Family Residence

Currently under construction in Squaw Valley, CA, this single-family residence sits on the main ski run to the village below. The home is nestled into its site, which protects it from avalanches and provides natural thermal insulation. The main living space is lifted over the ski room and sauna and twists to view the summit of K22 just across the valley. The bedroom wing is elongated along the north-south axis, which opens the spaces to views of the village and the morning sun. All roofs serve as either open green space or programmed patios that act as extensions of the interior spaces. Two external stairs are integrated into the architecture of the home making all the exterior levels interconnected.

The photo above was taken from the 120 passenger Cable Car that runs from the Base Village at Squaw Valley to High Camp, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics. Base Village sits at an elevation of 6,200' and High Camp is located at over 8,200'. The only Funitel in the United States runs directly over the modern home (one of the Funitel's support towers can be seen in the right of the picture).

Squaw Facts

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Up to 25,000 skiers per hour travel over and around the Ski-In / Ski-On / Ski-Out Home

- Squaw Valley has the only Funitel in the United States with a capacity of 28 passengers per cabin. The Funitel runs directly over the house.
- The home rests at an elevation of 6,427 feet (1,959 m) in Squaw Valley, CA.
- Home to the 1960 Winter Olympics, Squaw is one of the largest ski areas in the United States.
- Squaw Valley is set in the Sierra Nevadas, with a base of 6,200 feet (1,890 m) and spread across 6 peaks and 4,000 acres.
- Granite Chief tops out at 9,050 feet (2,760 m) above sea level.
- The area receives 40 or more feet (12 m) of maritime snowfall in a winter.
- Snowpack depths reach 200 inches (5.1 m).
- With 31 lifts and an uphill capacity of 49,000 skiers per hour, Squaw Valley attracts 600,000 skiers a year.
- Squaw Valley’s risk of earthquakes is 1138% greater than the overall U.S. average.
- The Ski-In / Ski-On / Ski-Out home sits in an active avalanche zone.

Project Data

The Big Issue:

How to build an energy efficient single-family home in an avalanche zone with spectacular views.

Project Description:

Private residence for a family of four, all of which ski and two of whom are professional skydivers.

Concept:

A house that opens up to the ski slope that it sits on and embraces the skiing lifestyle of the family that lives in it year round.

Year:

2007 - 2010

Location:

Olympic Valley, CA

Client/Sponsor:

Private

Site:

Ski slopes of Squaw Valley

Environmental Strategies:

Over 60% of the home is naturally insulated by the earth it is set into. The home utilizes low voltage lighting, borrows light wherever possible with transoms and full-height glass doors, has a heat recovery ventilator to maximize the efficiency of the heating and cooling systems and is pre-wired for a photovoltaic array on the uppermost roof. The upper box is clad in reclaimed redwood sourced from an extant log flume from the region. The concrete used for the structure and footings contains a high percentage of fly ash.

Program:

Open loft (with kitchen, dining, office and living room), master suite, two bedrooms with en-suite baths, laundry, sauna, ski room (with waxing room, fireplace and bar), guest suite (with two bedrooms, bar, laundry and t.v. room), exercise room, four-car garage and formal entry.

Scale:

8,000 sq/ft

Budget: