THE DRAWING BOARD – November 2013

For the young family building this slope-side mountain retreat at Bethel’s Sunday River resort, skiing is most definitely in their blood. It is also in the blood of their architect, Rob Bramhall, a native New Englander who went on to study his craft—while advancing his skiing ability—in the mountains of the American West.

Bramhall’s design calls for three levels of living in a 6,200-square-foot building nestled into a steeply wooded, trail-side lot. The walk-out lower level, approached from the south, houses a two-bay garage, large mudroom, open play area, bunkroom, and ski-tuning room. A gracious entry stair from the mudroom provides access to the main living level, the heart of which is the Great Room, which features massive timber trusses, a hulking stone fireplace, and a soaring wall of glass overlooking the mountain. A large open kitchen connects the cook to family and guests, while a back door at grade provides ski-in/ski-out access to and from a delightful tree-lined groomer. 

Flanking opposite sides of the entertainment hub are a master suite, a remote retreat offering privacy with mountain views, and a private guest suite above the garage. Two upper level bedrooms are accessed by means of an open stairway with overscaled windows framing views to the back woods and trail. A covered exterior porch with fireplace provides opportunities for outdoor living with great mountain views.

The exterior of the house is a fusion of regional styles and materials. The design takes its lead from the mountain architecture of the west, using natural materials such as rugged stone, cedar, and steel which are intended to weather naturally. New England barns and outbuildings are referenced in the house’s massing and also in its use of board-and-batten and barn-board siding and red cedar roofing.

Rob Bramhall Architects: robbramhallarchitects.com | 978.749.3663