Black Fox Ranch by CLB Architects is a Modern Ranch that’s Inspired by Place.
Photos by Matthew Millman
Getting Back to Western Roots
Located on a 35-acre parcel at the base of the pristine Teton Mountain Range in Jackson, Wyoming, Black Fox Ranch is a legacy project that draws from the site’s history as a working cattle ranch. As such, CLB’s mission was to return the land to its western roots by building a primary residence and horse stable with minimal disruption to the surrounding environment.
The main house and barn are defined by elemental forms and sustainable materials. The home’s L-shaped plan separates the main living spaces—living, dining, kitchen, den, and primary bedroom—from secondary areas including guest quarters, gym, sauna, and laundry room. This strategic layout allows access to panoramic views of the surrounding mountain ranges including the iconic Sheep Mountain.
Top-Performing Building Materials
While conservation informed how the structures were situated on the land, Wyoming’s extreme weather played a key role in choice of cladding. With highs in the 90s during the summer and lows in the -20s during the winter months, CLB needed a top-performing building material to clad the buildings.
“We chose Western Red Cedar because of its durability in the harsh climate and because our client expressed a desire for a warm color palette,” explains Eric Logan, Partner. “Many contemporary architecture projects are seen as cold and hard, we incorporated cedar to create an inviting, rich, textural exterior.”
Extending Outdoor Living Space
Inside, CLB used more cedar on the ceiling to imbue a grounded, earthy sense of warmth. This canopy extends into a soffit system that creates shelter for outdoor living areas and a dining terrace. For this feature, they specified a crisp clear grade of cedar, and for the exterior, they opted for a beautiful knotty grade of cedar.
“The appearance of the tight knots fit well with the western vernacular while maintaining the simple and clean aesthetic we established for the design,” says Logan. “The tight knot boards are a perfect combination of durability and beauty.”
As for the finished product, the homeowners couldn’t be happier. “Our clients were very supportive of our team’s opinion that cedar was a superior product for their siding,” says Logan.
