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.

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.)

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.

"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!

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.

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.

Avis Granary Retreat: Cookhouse & Equipment Barn Photoshoot

F&H was grateful to find clear skies earlier this month with photographer Richard Barnes. The recently completed Cookhouse and Equipment Barn represent the culmination of a 15-year design cycle at the Avis Granary Retreat in Clyde Park.

See our next post for the final photography!

Avis Granary Retreat: Opening Celebration

Last week, the Fernau + Hartman team joined North Fork Builders and subcontractors at the Avis Ranch, where the Avis family hosted an opening celebration of the completed Cookhouse and Equipment Barn.

Gathering and dining on the Cookhouse South
and West porches, and on the pedestrian bridge.

View to the west from the pedestrian bridge.

Construction at Avis Granary Retreat: Update No.5

Construction at Avis Granary Retreat: Update No.4

First views of the near-complete Cookhouse interior--just in time for the holidays!








Photos courtesy of North Fork Builders, Inc.

Construction at Avis Granary Retreat: Update No. 3

Construction updates from November and December.

See all posts on updates at the Granary Retreat.

In Cookhouse stair, looking towards Sleeping Nook.


Cookhouse upstairs, looking towards cooling chimney.


Equipment Barn taking shape.


Progress on the pedestrian bridge that will connect the new Cookhouse to the rest of the Compound--Granary House and Granary in background.