Olson Kundig's Sky View House: Architectural Marvel with Retractable Roof
A mountain home in Idaho blending with nature, featuring a roof that opens to the sky.
1An Architectural Icon Among Mountains
Completed by Olson Kundig Architects in Sun Valley, Idaho, the 7,190-square-foot Sky View house harmonizes with its surroundings. Dominated by concrete, steel, and glass, the design stands out with its retractable roof. Design principal Tom Kundig emphasizes the house 'being part of the landscape'. While capturing the visual coolness of the arroyo (dry creek), it frames panoramic views of the desert and mountains beyond.
2360-Degree Panoramic Experience
Sky View offers a 360-degree vista encompassing mountains, meadow, arroyo, and sky. The architecture recedes to highlight the landscape. The upper floor features a lounge with a handwheel-operated retractable roof. Kundig notes, 'When the roof opens, you're face-to-face with the incredibly clear night sky, especially in the high desert.' This design provides residents direct engagement with the sky.
3Spatial Organization and Material Selection
The side facing the arroyo is enclosed with board-formed concrete, while living areas with expansive windows are elevated on the second floor. Kundig explains, 'As you move through the house, you transition between prospect and refuge.' Durability guides material choices: concrete and steel siding withstand snow, wind, and fire with minimal maintenance. Inside, wood and plaster soften the hard materials.
4Design Inspired by High Desert Living
Kundig reveals the design stemmed from questioning 'how one wants to live in the high desert.' This inquiry birthed the concept of simultaneous connection to horizon, ground, and sky. 'The house opens in every direction, keeping you constantly aware of your surroundings,' Kundig highlights, emphasizing full landscape immersion over framing singular views. This philosophy permeates every corner of the home.
5Climate-Responsive Material Palette
The studio selected materials resilient to harsh climate exposure. Concrete walls and steel structures require minimal maintenance, while interior wood and plaster add tactile warmth. Kundig describes this combination as 'tough and tactile.' The distance between neighbors ensures privacy while heightening awareness of weather and seasonal changes. This material strategy balances durability with domestic comfort.
6Olson Kundig's Other Iconic Projects
With offices in Seattle, New York, and Chicago, Olson Kundig applied similar design principles to a Swedish waterside holiday home. Other notable projects include a Hawaii beach house with operable screens and a Vancouver mid-century modern residence renovated with Erica Colpitts. Sky View represents the studio's latest exploration of architecture integrated with nature.
7Project Details and Collaborations
The Sky View team included Olson Kundig's Tom Kundig, Elizabeth Bianchi Conklin, and Patricia Flores. Maxwell Structural Design Studio contributed structural engineering, while Niteo handled lighting design. KT Steel Corporation fabricated stair steel, and Ketchum Kustom Woodworks crafted casework. Photographer Aaron Leitz captured the project. These collaborations reflect the project's technical excellence.
8Architecture Dancing with Nature
Sky View transcends being merely a house—it's an experiential space. The design offers both secure refuge and boundless views. As Kundig observes, 'As you move through the house, the landscape keeps pulling you outward.' This project exemplifies modern architecture's harmony with nature and sustainable material use. In Idaho's high desert, Sky View stands as tangible proof of architecture's integration with the natural world.