Montana Cookhouse in Big Sky Journal

From the article:

True to its name, the Cookhouse was centered on a large, open kitchen and dining area, and a hallway that acts as the spine of the structure. "The spaces that spin off the hall are small; they didn't want a gigantic living room. The kitchen and hall are where they get together," Fernau says. "The last thing they wanted was a lodge; the house is actually an anti-lodge."

Click here or on the image below to read the full article.

Montana Cookhouse in Fine Homebuilding Magazine

The Montana Cookhouse is featured in yet another publication, this time in the May 2016 issue of Fine Homebuilding Magazine. Read the short article by Maureen Friedman:


When the time came to build the main residence for a working ranch in rural Montana, the homeowners wanted an energy-efficient house with generous kitchen, dining, and living spaces for large events. They also wanted it to look as though it had always been part of the existing homestead, which includes a granary and a farmhouse.

"Taking a cue from local hay barns and conceiving the project as an 'anti-lodge,' Richard Fernau and Laura Boutelle of Fernau & Hartman designed this 1 1/2-story broad-eaved, gable-roofed house." 

Located in an area that is subjected to severe storms, 115-degree F temperature fluctuations, and 70-mph winds, the cookhouse fits the climate and the land. Its east-west siting presents the narrow face to the most intense wind and weather and is optimal for solar gain. The rooms on both floors are organized along a central hallway that links the interior spaces but that also functions as a massive air duct connecting the house to the thermal chimney. This keeps the house cool via the stack effect even in the extreme heat of summer, making air-conditioning unnecessary. In colder months, the house is heated with a ground-source heat pump and EPA-rated woodstoves.

2015 AIA Montana Design Awards

In other exciting news, both The Lark Bozeman and the Wedge House have each taken titles from the 2015 AIA Montana Design Awards. 

Both winning Citation Awards, the Wedge House (a private residence in Palo Alto) and The Lark Motel (a project Richard has collaborated on in Bozeman, Montana) have been featured in The Montana Architect, a publication of the Montana AIA chapter. Click on the links below to read the text:

The Lark Motel

The Wedge House

Montana Cookhouse Receives Honor Award

F&H's Montana Cookhouse received an Honor Award at the AIA Montana 2014 Design Awards. With subsequent publication in The Montana Architect, magazine. 

(Click Pages to zoom.)

Palo Alto House Photoshoot

The Palo Alto House, completed end of last summer. © 2014 Richard Barnes Photography. 

Palo Alto House - Construction Update 6

Montana Cookhouse receives AIA East Bay Citation Award

The Montana Cookhouse received a Citation Award at the AIA East Bay Design Awards, which were presented at the chapter office last week. Click the image below to check out our collection of photos from the project.

Palo Alto House - Construction Update 5

"Rooted Modernism": F&H Profile Published in Modern Magazine

F&H has been working with Modern Magazine's Beth Dunlop and we are now incredibly pleased to share their Summer issue feature on F&H, "Rooted Modernism"

For the article, click ModernMag.com, and stay tuned for the full feature as seen in the print magazine!

Palo Alto House - Construction Update 4

Palo Alto House - Construction Update 3

Montana Cookhouse in Architectural Record Featured Houses

The Montana Cookhouse is featured in this month's edition of Architectural Record's "Featured Houses" online.

Check it out on Architectural Record.

Palo Alto House - Construction Update 2

Dec 11, 2012 - Vertical Rebar in place

Jan 10, 2013 - Inside Formwork in place

Feb 11, 2013 - Concrete forms stripped!

Palo Alto House - Construction Update 1

Excavation has begun at the house in Palo Alto, CA.

See earlier images from the design here.

Avis Granary Retreat: Cookhouse & Equipment Barn Photoshoot

The Cookhouse and Equipment Barn at the Avis Granary Retreat in Clyde Park, MT, completed this fall. © 2012 Richard Barnes Photography.