Idaho – Mountain Architects – Hendricks Architecture

Sketches to Reality: Designing a Waterfront Home on Priest Lake

October 10, 2013 by John Hendricks, Architect AIA 4 Comments

A waterfront home we designed was recently completed on the shores of Priest Lake in the Selkirk Mountains of North Idaho. I think I can speak for all architects in that it is always gratifying to see sketches become reality.

Home on Priest Lake

Our client wanted a “mountain rustic timber-framed Arts & Crafts style home.” Among other prerequisites, the home needed to take advantage of the lake views and white sand beaches, include a view tower and window seats, and be spacious and inviting with several large rooms. A small allowable building footprint (made even smaller by flood plain requirements), as well as building height limitations, turned it into a fun puzzle to solve.

Typically I go over with our clients what the requirements are, whether it’s in person, by phone, email, etc. In this case we did all three. There are some clients of ours that I’ve actually never met, and some I’ve never even heard their voice. In this particular case we met in person and went over his initial objectives. We then went over space relationships (kitchen near the mud room, etc.), and after looking it over I gave him an estimation of how many square feet the house would be, as well as how much it would likely cost to build.

Waterfront Home Firepit on Priest Lake designed by Hendricks Architecture

Peek-a-boo view of the house, and a nice place to hang out in the evening.

By the time I start designing we are in mutual agreement on everything, and it’s a matter of me putting it all down on paper. I take out the trace paper and start molding the spaces into a form. At the same time I’m drawing quick form sketches of plans, roof plans and elevations that only I can understand. Sort of like a sculptor artist starting to shape a block of clay (though maybe not quite as elegant).

Rough sketch roof plan design of the waterfront home

A Rough Sketch of a Roof Plan

These sketches are not pretty, and to others may look like chicken scratch. Here is another unedited sketch, this time of the elevation. The roofs don’t work well here for snow runoff, but again these are real quick and the details are figured out once the form is being shaped.

Waterfront home architect sketch on Priest Lake

Rough Elevation Sketch

I rarely show these to clients as many wouldn’t understand them, and might fire us on the spot for using kindergartners to design their house.

Once I have the design basics figured out, I’ll draw a site plan, floor plans and the exterior elevations in more detail to present to the client. I like to give them the entire composition so they can see the overall concept in front of them. This is part of the schematic design phase. You can get a glimpse of the typical architectural process by clicking here. Here is an updated lake-facing elevation. Now the tower has been moved more towards the center of the house. For some finished photos see Priest Lake House.

Waterfront home lake elevation sketch designed by Hendricks Architecture

Lakeside Schematic Elevation

After we’re in agreement on the design, we move onto design development. Here we’ll put these sketches into more defined form on the computer, along with any changes requested by the client. Here is the same elevation after it’s modified and drawn in the computer. See if you can see what the changes were.

Once we agree on the design here, we’ll start drawing up construction documents, which will be detailed enough for contractors to price and build from. Here again is the lakeside elevation with applicable notes and tags.

Here is a photo of the final product, again from the lakeside elevation to be consistent. This photo doesn’t show all the windows of the tower. To actually see them at the same angle as the elevation drawings, I would need to be about 25 feet in the air, or out on the lake (where the tower and lake “see each other”).

Many thanks to Sandau Builders of Priest Lake, who did an excellent job as the building contractor. Jane Scott Design lent her expertise to the Arts & Crafts interior design. Barcus Engineering did the structural design. Mingo Mountain Woodworking did an awesome job with the woodworking throughout the house.

Hendricks Architecture specializes in the design of timber mountain style homes and cabins, not only at Priest Lake, but throughout North America. Our homes have been featured in Timber Home Living, Mountain Living, Cowboys & Indians, Cabin Life and other publications. If you are interested in a mountain home, or you have any other inquiries, please contact us.

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Steel Bandshell in Sandpoint

July 31, 2013 by John Hendricks, Architect AIA 3 Comments

A steel bandshell designed by Hendricks Architecture was recently completed in Sandpoint’s Farmin Park. Sandpoint Rotary asked us to work with Parks and Recreation director Kim Woodruff to design a replacement option for the park’s bandstand roof.

The tasks we were given were to fit the structure within an existing circular brick base, keep the performers dry, be durable, low maintenance, and fit architecturally and aesthetically into a park in the heart of downtown. We were also challenged to make the structure a unique and a one-of-a-kind piece of art. In addition, we wanted to make sure it was acoustically viable for the musicians, despite the steel structure.

Steel bandshell Hendricks architects Sandpoint Idaho

Steel bandshell in Sandpoint Idaho’s Farmin Park

In an initial brainstorming meeting with Kim and structural engineer Carlos Suarez, we talked about the possibility of using steel instead of wood for its longevity and low cost maintenance factor. Kim suggested I meet with talented local steel artist Tom Brunner onsite to put our heads together. I met with Tom the next day, our ideas clicked and within about 15 minutes we had the basis for the design. I threw some quick sketches together (one shown below) and the next day we (Kim, Carlos, Tom and I) were all in agreement on the conceptual design. The following day Tom threw together a small scale steel model, which became effective later on in getting approvals from various City committees. The next steps were to secure funding, and end up with stamped construction documents to assure public safety.

Steel bandshell Hendricks Architect Sandpoint Idaho

Front view of the bandshell in Sandpoint, built over an existing brick bandstand

The design is based off the existing curved bandstand, from the columns to the beams, to the purlins and other support elements. We wanted it to be more organic than to just add a linear roof over it. Carlos was given the tough task of trying to make the shell stand upright through the toughest snow and wind storms. Carlos ended up donating about 80-90% of his time. It ended up being a very time consuming project, but I think for both of us it was a fun puzzle to solve. Tom Russell of Hendricks Architecture served as the project architect and was able to make all the pieces come together, including a 3D rendering which helped gain approvals.

Steel Bandshell Hendricks Architecture Sandpoint Idaho

Side view of the Farmin Park bandshell in Sandpoint

The purlins (the steel running right to left under the roofing – some nearly reaching fifty feet) were also designed to be curved, but in the end, we decided to make them straight. This was a painful compromise, but to curve each of them would have increased the price significantly, not just from curving the steel, but mainly because the roofing would have had to be intricately cut and laid over some very complex curves that bend in more than one direction. This would have become very time consuming to build, so the purlins are straight, but are laid out in six segments each so they at least hint of a curve. The structure is all steel, while the roof is corten steel. Eventually the entire structure will have a nice rust patina. The bandshell shouldn’t need any major maintenance, and should outlive all of us.

John’s original sketch of the side elevation

One of my biggest concerns was the acoustics. Exposed steel is not a material typically used in theaters or other music venues, as sound tends to reverberate off steel. We certainly didn’t want to amplify the sound too much and to the detriment of local businesses and neighborhoods. The existing base had curved walls which angled out towards the park’s music audience, so we emulated that in the roof structure. We angled the roof up, as well as limited steel in the sound path to allow music to escape easier. Still, I was a little nervous as the construction was pretty loud at the points when they had to put hammer on steel. I was relieved to actually hear the musicians play and find it sounded pretty good. I’ve heard from a few that the sound is better than it was before, and worst case, the same as before.

All the consulting work Tom Brunner (the steel artist) did initially was at no cost. Tom also designed the artwork in the four structural steel rings, where each symbolizes one of the four seasons. Most of the team donated a lot of their time and offered reduced rates to get this built. Sean Fitzpatrick (a fellow Rotarian) acted as the general contractor. Wayne Bistodeau of Multi-Trail Enterprises, framed the steel structure in his shop, then disassembled it and put it together on site. Apex Construction, CE Kramer Crane and Contracting, DSS Construction, Glahe and Associates, North County Electric, and Pacific Steel also contributed towards the Rotary project. Several other Rotarians contributed their time on this, including Presidents Paula Parsons, Jerri Anderson and Bob Linscott, the community service head and a former architect.

A steel Rotary wheel was inserted in the main truss.

The bandshell was funded by the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency (SURA) and Rotary. SURA financially supported the project acknowledging that, though more costly on the front end, the long-term investment was best served with the steel structure. Sandpoint Rotary requested funding and it was granted in late 2012.

Many thanks as well to Marie Dominique Verdier for her beautiful photography! See our Facebook page for more photos.

John Hendricks is an AIA architect at Hendricks Architecture. Click to Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture’s Blog

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Idaho Mountain Camping Vacation

April 26, 2013 by John Hendricks, Architect AIA Leave a Comment

Every summer I take the family on a camping trip. Last summer we stayed in the State of Idaho. We made a counter clockwise route from Sandpoint to Stanley, and back through Missoula, Montana. We were also able to visit a ghost town on the way, and see some rustic building techniques, maybe a little too rustic for some.

Rustic Log Rail Fence in Lower Stanley, Idaho

Except for the southern central section of the state, there are not a lot of flat places in Idaho. In fact, percentage-wise, Idaho is more mountainous than any other state. And where there are mountains, there are rivers. About ¾ of our trip was along some very beautiful rivers, and much of these where along Idaho “Scenic Byways”. Many parts of these rivers are popular for rafting, and hot springs are abundant.

Our first day was spent driving down Highway 95 from Sandpoint, through Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston, along the rivers to McCall, and down to Lake Cascade. The drive down into Lewiston is pretty dramatic. The highway towers above as it weaves down into the city, which is hugged by the Clearwater and Snake Rivers. We then drove up the Salmon River towards Riggins, and then up the Little Salmon River towards the beautiful town of McCall. We finally arrived at Amanita Campground on Lake Cascade as dusk was setting in.

Coho salmon spawning near our campsite

The next morning we saw coho salmon spawning in the stream next to our campsite. After trying some fishing on the lake, we took a side trip to visit Tamarack Resort, a golf and ski community nearby. In addition to the golf and skiing, they have a couple of nice amenities including the lodge, a fun little chapel, a ballroom building and a meeting building disguised as a barn and schoolhouse respectively. The golf course is a signature Robert Trent Jones II design. A village is in a long standing state of construction as they have been in and out of foreclosure. However, I can see that once it gets resolved they could be in good shape. That afternoon we went swimming in the lake, and finished off the day around the campfire.

The next day we continued on our way, driving south along the Payette River towards Banks. We had lunch at a restaurant in Banks, just south of Banks Lowman road, which overlooks the Payette. We sat back and relaxed, while below us was a bustle of activity as Bear Valley Rafting was beginning their half-day trips down the river. After lunch we drove up the very windy, yet scenic Banks Lowman Road. I had to stop and get out, looking down into the South Fork of the Payette River, which is known for its white water. It just so happened that at that spot, far below, a rafting expedition was currently carrying their rafts a short ways down the river to avoid a more dangerous stretch.

Rafting on the South Fork of the Payette River

We made our way east past Lowman towards Mountain View Campground, where we stayed the night. This campground doesn’t exactly have a mountain view, other than the hills on the other side of the Payette River, but it does have some great spots on the river. There weren’t any mosquitoes, but in the evening the no-see-ums were so horrendous that we didn’t last long around the campfire.

The Salmon River in Lower Stanley with the Sawtooth Mountains to the South.

The next day we drove up Highway 21 along the “Ponderosa Pine Scenic Route”, and down into Stanley as we got our first glimpses of the Sawtooth Mountains. The jagged panorama of the Sawtooths is one of the most beautiful mountain ranges I’ve ever seen. Nestled in the valley below is the Salmon River and the town of Stanley, Idaho. Hardy folk live in this town, which has the honor of being ranked #1 for having the “most days with the coldest temperature” in the lower 48 states.

The Salmon River north of Stanley

We were there in late August, so other than a few semi-cold mornings it was t-shirt and shorts weather. On our first night we stayed in a hotel so we could take showers and enjoy soft beds (we’re tent campers). The next four nights we stayed south of town at Casino Creek Campground, along the Salmon River. It was a nice spot. The sites were fairly open and close together, but because it was late summer the campground was only about 20% full.

Looking NW at the Sawtooth Mountains from Galena Summit, between Stanley and Ketchum

On one of the days we drove over Galena Summit to the Sun Valley and Ketchum areas, about 75 minutes south of Stanley. On another we took a short drive north to the Bonanza and Custer ghost towns. Being an architect who designs mountain homes, I get a kick out of seeing these old, rustic buildings.

A home in the ghost town of Bonanza

Bonanza is spread out with various buildings and a cemetery. Custer is in better shape and has a nice self-guided tour, starting with panning for gold outside a schoolhouse, the first building on the tour.

The Empire Saloon in the Ghost Town of Custer

One of the homes had an interesting roof material. Flattened tin cans covered the whole roof, and were in great shape after 100+ years. So if you’re willing to take the time to collect and flatten them, start saving your tin cans. Just make sure you use a good underlayment.

This tin can roof in Custer has lasted many years.

I also found an innovative way to make a double powder room, OR double toilets in the master bathroom!

Double toilets – too rustic?

All kinds of ideas flow when looking at this master bathroom.

Simple rustic master bath tub sitting area

Simple and Rustic Master Bath: Tub and Sitting Area

We also experienced Sunbeam Hot Springs. Here, the hot springs mingle with the Salmon River, and there are several man-made pools, built with moveable rocks. Temperatures vary depending on your proximity to the river. This would be a fun thing to design into a house. Hmmm……

Sunbeam Hot Springs merges with the Salmon River

On our last day we caught several trout in the morning, and in the afternoon we went to beautiful (and popular) Redfish Lake, just south of Stanley. Campgrounds and Redfish Lake Lodge and marina surround the north end of the lake. To the west, the Sawtooths loom overhead. A ferry ride from the lodge takes you to the base of the mountains, where there are numerous hikes and backpacking excursions to alpine lakes. At 6457 feet above sea level, Redfish Lake is at the top end of Idaho’s Columbia River sockeye salmon migration. The salmon enter the Columbia River from the Pacific Ocean, then up the Snake and Salmon Rivers, before traveling up Redfish Lake Creek. After traveling about 900 miles from the Pacific, the salmon finally arrive at Redfish Lake. See a map of the quest.

Redfish Lake and the Sawtooth Mountains

We had a visitor on our last night after enjoying a nice trout dinner. Apparently the smell was pretty good, as in the middle of the night I woke up to some rustling around the campsite. I got up and sat there listening, trying to figure out what it was. I heard the small huffing sounds that bears make, and came to the conclusion that there weren’t grizzlies in the area. In most cases I would have just stayed there and let it pass. However, my daughter, who didn’t want to sleep in our big tent, was in a small tent about 30 feet away, and I didn’t want the bear getting close to her tent.

I decided I would quickly get out of the tent, make a run for the minivan, jump in, and start the engine to scare it off if it hadn’t already bolted. Just then, it brushed against the side of the tent where Annie was sleeping, and she bolted upright with wide eyes. “What the hell was that?”

I mouthed “bear”, paused, and then keys and flashlight in my hand, I quickly unzipped the tent, scanned quickly, and ran for the minivan. I quickly grabbed the handle and pulled. It was locked! Cursing myself and the non-working keyless remote (which would have been useful from inside the tent), I fumbled for the right key and jumped in. I started the car, turned on the lights, turned the car around to face the campsite, and then turned it off. The bear was gone.

Trout dinner. Make sure you clean up thoroughly before going to bed.

The next day we drove north up highway 93 (also called the Lewis and Clark Trail), along the Salmon River, and then up and over the spectacular Bitterroot Mountains via Lost Trail Pass. This pass is about a half mile west of the Continental Divide. We then traveled north through Hamilton and into Missoula, Montana, where we spent the night. We then took Highway 200 northwest along the Clark Fork River to Lake Pend Oreille and home in Sandpoint.

A map of the trip from Google Maps. (A/I) Sandpoint (B) Lewiston (C) Cascade Lake (D) Banks (E) Lowman (F) Sun Valley/Ketchum (G) Stanley/Casino Creek Campground (H) Missoula, Montana

John Hendricks is a licensed AIA architect at Hendricks Architecture. We are an architectural firm in Sandpoint, Idaho, specializing in mountain style homes. Click to Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture’s Blog

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Lakefront Mountain Home in Northern Idaho

March 19, 2012 by John Hendricks, Architect AIA 2 Comments

A lakefront mountain home Hendricks Architecture designed was recently built in Northern Idaho. The home faces north looking over Lake Pend Oreille, with great views of Sandpoint, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, and the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains.

Lakefront Mountain Home

The property included an outdated lake home. The layout of the existing home and view corridors didn’t work for the owner’s tastes, and wasn’t very energy efficient, so they decided to tear it down and start over. The Owner’s mountain style home wishlist included a rustic, yet refined look on the exterior, with cedar, stone and timbers. They wanted the interior a little more modern and cozy, with well done finishes, and higher ceilings. They also wanted views from all the major rooms.

The existing home didn’t get any winter sun, so they wanted to bring in as much natural light as possible, while still maintaining some privacy. We designed in a cupola (held up by timber trusses) and a couple of dormer windows to add more natural light, along with other windows. I knew we succeeded when I showed the house to a client and they asked me why I didn’t turn the lights off when we were leaving. When I replied that they in fact were off, they gave me that wide-eyed wow look that’s always fun to see.

Front Entry

Two existing garages were kept, one of which was connected to the new house and given new exterior materials. A third garage was torn down to make space for construction materials, as it was a tight lot with limited access. A long mudroom/laundry/pantry connects the garage to the house. A great room, which includes an open kitchen, dining, and living areas, has breathtaking views out to the lake. The master bedroom also has great views, along with its own fireplace, and a large nook for her desk and bookshelves.

In the daylight basement below are bedrooms, an exercise room and office. The guest bedroom is a favorite, and it looks out between massive stone pillars forming an arch, which frames the water and mountain views. Because the home is on a fairly steep slope (about 30 degrees), the basement sits back against the hill. We designed mechanical and storage in the rear, and included a wine room that is so naturally cool year round that a refrigeration unit isn’t necessary.

The home was built jointly by Dan Fogerty of Sandpoint, Idaho and Denman Construction of Whitefish, Montana. Photos by Marie Dominique Verdier.

John Hendricks, AIA Architect

Hendricks Architecture, Idaho mountain architects specializing in mountain style lakefront homes and cabins. Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture’s Blog.

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