Luxurious mountain house exterior with with landscape, trees and walkway
 

VALHALLA

MARTIS CAMP, CALIFORNIA

 
House exterior with landscape, staircase entry and glass window walls
House interior with large sofa, brick walls, wooden center table and hardwood floors
 
 

The home is a composition of carved barrel vaults, glass window walls and angular stone forms, which were fondly dubbed “the wedges” during the development of the design. The wedges organize the spaces, and they also direct the views toward the ski area to the south and to the ponderosa forest on the north.

 
 
House interior with white sofa, hardwood floors, brick walls, staircase and glass window walls
House interior with hardwood floor and wooden staircase
House with entry way, brick walls and wooden frame glass door
House interior with vast hallway, wooden floor and brick walls
House interior hallway with wooden floor and wooden beams and ceiling
House interior entrance hall with wooden frame glass door
 
 

From the first moment, Valhalla was designed to be a sculpture – a sculpture derived from, and still part of, the landscape. Occupying a serene clearing high in the Sierra mountains, the home brings the outdoors in with transparent walls and patio access from nearly every room.

 
 
House interior with round table, chairs and giant glass walls
Bedroom with fireplace, chandelier, brick walls and a balcony
House exterior with staircase, landscape and glass window walls
House exterior with gambrel roof and brick walls
Modern house surrounding ponderosa forest
 
 

Title
Valhalla

Location
Martis Camp, California

Project Size
7,400 sq feet

Fun Fact

The design and construction was executed under the leadership of an entirely female team! (Sally Brainerd, Architect; Joan Jones, General Contractor; Rachel Harper of KL&A, Structural Engineer, Corinne Capiaux, Landscape Architect; and Bethe Cohen, Interior Designer.)


Elements

Cut strip limestone walls, zinc siding, stone and walnut floors, exposed timber and steel beams.

Credits

Architecture | RKD Architects, Inc.
General Contractor | Jones Corda
Constructions Interior Design | Bethe Cohen Design
Photography | Gibeon Photo; Vance Fox Photographer
Timber and Steel Structure | Spearhead Timberworks


Press & Awards

Mountain Living
Vail Valley HOME | Local Firm, International Appeal
Winner at the International Design and Architecture Awards for “Best Ski Chalet”, London, England