ARCHITECT: BCV Architects
PHOTOGRAPHER: Bruce Damonte Photography
LOCATION: Sugar Bowl Resort, California, USA

Considering Sugar Bowl is home to some of the highest snowfall in California, a double-warped sloping butterfly roof may seem like a somewhat unlikely choice for this stunning ski-in/ski-out chalet. In fact, more than a few local residents have expressed concern about its ability to withstand huge powder dumps. But according to BCV architect Jennifer Smith, they needn’t worry.

“What the general public cannot see,” says Smith, “is that the roof sits on a series of radiating glulam beams designed to take the massive snow load of 400 lbs/sf. So yes, the roof can hold several feet of snow… or several fire trucks if you are so inclined!”

The rest of the home, including the Euro-style concrete base that anchors the structure to the mountainside, is also very well equipped for winter conditions. In terms of appearance, the show-stopping aspect of this project is all that beautiful use of Western Red Cedar.

“Cedar is inherently moisture and bug resistant, so using this on the exterior of the house was a natural choice,” she says. “The patina that cedar takes on over time is something the house will very much embrace.”

While they used a pristine clear grade for the sauna and decking columns, they chose a knotty grade for the exterior siding.

“The client liked the more rustic feel of knotty cedar,” says Smith, adding, “While the house has very modern lines, it calls on the craft and materiality of traditional Tyrolean homes.”

WRC SPECIFICATIONS
GRADE: Select knotty
SIZE: 1 x 6 tongue and groove, v-joint siding with a saw textured face; 2 x 6 tongue and groove, v-joint roof decking with a smooth face
FASTENING: Stainless steel screws
APPLIED FINISH: Clear stain

Get the full story behind more wooded wonders like this in Cedar Book 8. Download a PDF or order a free hardcopy today: https://www.realcedar.com/cedarbook/