Lean-Three by The Ranch Mine

Lean-Three by The Ranch Mine responds to the gentle ascent of its clapboard-covered terrain, forming a harmonious connection with the surrounding landscape.

The American architecture studio led by Cavin and Claire Costello drew on the straightforward design of lean-to structures for this ranch house. Split into three main volumes, the building rises with the terrain, creating a graduated effect along the property and offering panoramic mountain views.

“Hugging the land, the house is slightly raised to follow its natural contours, guiding rain and snowmelt to the pond below,” The Ranch Mine said in a project statement. “A raised entrance is accessible via a ramp or steps.”

It was designed for clients who enjoy outdoor activities, biking, and cooking, and the interiors reflect the client’s personalities. “The house is tailored for those with robust flooring materials that invite outdoor shoes,” the studio said.

Each of the three main volumes contains a living quarter: the garage and bike workshop, the great room, or the bedrooms.

The three main volumes of the house include the garage and bike workshop, the great room and the bedrooms. These structures are connected by smaller volumes that shelter the home’s entry, a mudroom, and a large wine room providing a dedicated space to store and savour their collection.

The garage and bike workshop has ample space for their biking gear, while the private back patio features a pizza oven, smoker, and an outdoor fireplace adjacent to a covered dining area for sharing the meals they make.

“The sloped shed roofs, curving upward, face adjacent mountains, optimizing the view from the living and main bedroom areas,” the studio said. These sheds also direct rain and snowmelt toward the pond below.

The home is characterised by its warm material palette with the exterior clad in clear-grain western red cedar, stained black for the soffits and sills.

“The vertical grooves left unstained, revealing the raw beauty of the wood while creating a vibrant visual contrast,” the studio said. In contrast, dark standing seam metal from Bridger Steel with “medium mechanical folds”, reflects the area.

The chassis is a stone skirt sourced from local quarries. It is applied to the facade as well as the joints and floors of the structure.

“The short dry-stack stone, inspired by dessert landscapes, serves as a grounding base that firmly anchors the building to the land.”

Indoor flooring and countertops blend into the exterior materials. The use of the wood v-groove and stone surfaces continues into the interior, although the walls shift to drywall finished with plaster.

The studio fitted the interior with retractable glass doors and bifold doors that open straight onto patios.

The centered great room, steps down from both sides, opening up to veranda spaces on either side, with the roof overhang serving as sun control.