Anchor House rises from a natural bench in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley, framed by two mountain ranges and overlooking the winding Bitterroot River. A central, glass‑walled volume lifts like an airfoil toward sweeping alpine views, while two low wings anchor the form fast to the earth, creating a sanctuary that connects deeply to the landscape while offering shelter.   The dark mysterious exterior is crafted of durable metal and glazing, enclosing a luminous interior with minimalist finishes that provide a backdrop for the owners’ art collection. The contrasting interplay of dark metal, expansive glass and warm wood elements gives the dwelling a modern yet comforting character; floor‑to‑ceiling glazing, precise solar orientation, and durable, recyclable materials maximize natural light, energy efficiency, and long‑term…

How do you find timelessness in a trend? When a client in the Ozark Mountains approached us to design a home that expressed the historic traditions of European craftsmanship, especially the popular Country French aesthetic that was thriving at the time, we leveraged the lasting value of fine craftsmanship and authentic materials to build a timeless home. An asymmetrical plan layout features variations of roof forms, combined brick and stone masonry, structural timber members with artful joinery, large and small window compositions, and exterior gardens with cobblestone paving. This home is a reminder that authentic craftsmanship and ties to the landscape never go out of fashion.

This southwestern Montana home is positioned on a gentle rise between two facing mountain ranges. Because the owners enjoy afternoon social gatherings during the warm months, the eastern mountain view became the primary focus of the home design. All the major spaces have decks or terraces that extend the interior into the outdoors, and the path of entry into the home was designed to gradually unveil the most expansive view, which is fully revealed upon entering the foyer. The material palette is diverse and textural, using a mix of rustic log siding, stone, and timber juxtaposed with board and batten, metal, glass, and minimalist detailing in designated areas. Conceptually, the home is organized into four zones based on function and…

The owners of an equestrian and cattle ranch commissioned our firm to design a private residence complete with spaces for hosting and entertaining social and civic groups. The themed design was inspired by the owners’ love of American western culture–horses, cattle, the railroad, country music, western art, and cowboy lore. Their midwestern ranch is located in the Ozark foothills of southern Missouri, which has a deep history of what we would now consider sustainable design. Early Ozark builders frequently worked in remote areas far from markets and supply sources and became masters of reusing resources and materials in inventive ways. Inspired by this tradition, we sourced materials locally or salvaged them from earlier structures. All the stone material was quarried…

This modern residence, located on a secluded Minnesota lake, serves as a second home for a retired couple and their extended family. A limited material palate was orchestrated to anchor the home to the site and open it to take in outside living areas, trees and lake views. Briggs Architecture served as the design consultant for this home. Lead architect is Hoffmann Morgan & Associates. Builder: Stonefield Builders – Willmer, Minnesota

This small project provided a challenge in balancing the owners’ need for a new modern master bath added to their 1927 Federal style home. The young couple loved their vintage home but had an affinity for clean modern and minimalist design. We chose to detail the addition’s exterior so it would appear “seamless” with the original, but provided a contrasting modern interior. A point of contradiction appeared where the best position for the vanity and mirrors conflicted with the properly placed and proportioned windows of the front facade. We developed an innovative solution with craftsmen at Hallenbrand Glass, LLC of Waunakee, Wisconsin. Together, we designed a moving mirror system that allowed the mirrors to slide along a stainless steel rail,…

The opportunity to work with a colleague that later becomes a client is a rewarding and complimentary endorsement. Eight years earlier while working as a corporate architect for Bass Pro Shops, I met and worked with my future client in his role as president of a major handcrafted log company in western Montana. His company supplied logs and timbers for Bass Pro’s Big Cedar Resort in Missouri in which I was involved in the design of several resort of buildings in the rustic and Adirondack styles. A few years later, after I founded Briggs Architecture, we continued to collaborate on some custom home and lodge designs, across the country. When it came time for his family to build a new home he…

The owners purchased property with an existing home and detached garage near the top of a mountain in western Montana. The home is a low-slung ranch with a wrap around porch, barn wood siding, exotic wood flooring and built-ins. The existing garage was unattractive and not adequate for their vehicle storage demands and it was the first building seen at the end of their access drive. They soon raised the garage and on another area of the property begin planning a new “vehicle stable” to include 5 bays with a tall 16’ bay in the center for a large RV. With the existing ranch house as a starting point, I begin designing the vehicle stable and connector to the home…

This lodge was to reflect the character of the Owners’ interpretations of ‘Montana’ especially inspired by our national park buildings.

This is a design that emerged from the owners desire to create a home inspired by diverse sources within an Arts and Crafts linage. We created a ‘history’ in this home in a way that it appeared to have been built and added to over several generations with inspiration contemporary with different ages. Art, music, literature and architecture from over 300 years was pulled together in a cohesive unit in this composition of a private dwelling. Sources as diverse as John Ruskin, the Bible and Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” literature inspired the design throughout. General Contractor: Michael D. Smith Homes – Springfield, MO Photography by Tim Ludwig, Springfield, MO