Location : Stanley, Idaho – Sawtooth Mountains

Project Concept : Two mountain cabins, designed as cluster, echo an spatial relationship found in historic mining towns of Idaho. From a distance, the steep metal roof, reclaimed wood, and stone resonate with local vernacular. Close-up the design is challenged with new approaches to composition, assembly performance, and structure. The design is unrepeatable, in that it strategically frames the landscape from positions inside and out. Rather than providing a grand view, the landscape is interpreted through space and storytelling.

Project Values : Community Character , Solar Orientation , High-Performance Assembly .

Key Project Team : 

• Shane Humphrey – Project Founder , Design & Construction
• George Nedelea – Sawtooth Contracting , Craftsman & Construction
• Kim Wilde , Stone Mason
• Shane King , Natural Plaster Artisan
• Dylan Pedersen , Metal Welding & Fabrication
• Trevor Brown , ICF Professional

The Sawtooth landscape, long before it became a destination for visitors and Stanley residents, was home to Indigenous peoples. The ancestors of today’s Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, along with other Native communities, lived within and stewarded this region for generations, guided by an understanding of balance with the natural world.

The design of Sawtooth Ridge Retreat started by listening, seeking a relationship between shelter and landscape. However, this understanding did not drive the final form of the structure. We unapologetically designed a mountain cabin that would instead be sculpted by this understanding of the landscape. This project is not about the structure, but is dedicated to visitors’ rare experiences of this Sawtooth view, at various scales. Through these relationships, we gain respect, joy, and understanding of place.

Description :  We studied the ‘low slope roof’ architectural approach, which was taken by other prominent architects in the area. And in the end, we chose a different path – perhaps the opposite. We chose a steep-roof mountain cabin that mirrored Stanley, Idaho’s historic character. From a distance, evoking a less modern roof line that would eventually become accepted as a distinct Stanley landmark people would visit and associate with their personal memories.

Idaho has a rich mining history of cabin structures protruding out of hillsides and mountains. Rather than study other significant architects, we decided to study what makes Idaho unique. Does the structure sit prominently along the ridge? Absolutely, but one might argue that a low-slope structure would do similar. The question now becomes, what did we sacrifice or gain? The project’s unique topography still defines the shape, character, and scale of the Sawtooth Ridge Retreat. During our site visit, we hiked and scrambled along the cliffside. The sense of exposure inspired the Small Cabin lookout, but also the general conceptual experience of the project we captured.

The project ultimately seeks historic continuity in massing, scale, and program. Yet to not mimic a historic structure, to contribute new design strategies to cold-climate mountain community design. Every building, dirt road, and alley of Stanley, ID was observed to absorb its rustic vernacular and this ethos of place.

Image Credit . Galczynski, University of Idaho Library, Estevan Chapa. 

The entry sequence is intentionally designed to frame Thompson Peak within the Sawtooth Mountain Range before one fully enters the space. Upon moving inside, the view is further experienced along the hallway, creating a sense of progression. As one advances, the entire Sawtooth Range is gradually revealed, culminating in a panoramic experience at the prominent corner window.

Sawtooth Ridge Retreat was designed and constructed with ICF ( insulated concrete form) assembly and MST rebar. This high performance building solution combines structural strength with continuous exterior and interior foam insulation. The assembly minimizes thermal bridging and significantly improves energy efficiency, nearly doubling standard framing insulation values. This results in stable indoor temperatures and reduced heating or cooling needs. The concrete core provides exceptional durability and resistance to extreme conditions.