Noah's Ark in Montana
Written by Jennifer Heyns
I don't know if they're planning to gather up the local wildlife two-by-two, but a Montana family built an enormous, near-zero-energy house that closely resembles Noah’s ark.
Designed by architectural firm Axis Mundi of New York, the land-locked ark is a definite complement to the natural landscape of Madison Valley, Montana. Emerging from the earth, it looks as if Noah’s predicted flood may have carried the substantial vessel to the middle of the continent and planted it there permanently as the waters ebbed.
It’s doubtful that the ark is made of gopher wood and measured in cubits, but it certainly has the appearance of seasoned wood, undeniable fortitude and sustainability. The rectangular ark is punctuated with openings both small and large that allow for intriguing light patterns inside the living spaces.
The most striking and uncharacteristic trait of the Ark House is the dual roof with astoundingly steep pitches and mysterious gap in coverage between the two. One vast steel roof covers a large open deck area, and the other spans the upper deck above the living space. The opening in between reveals a steel trellis-lined atrium with a lily pond at the bottom. This open indoor/outdoor courtyard is visible from one end of both floors of the interior.
While the roofs cover a majority of the ark structure, they do so in an unconventional way, leaving the ends open to preserve the pristine mountain views and natural wildlife scenery to be enjoyed. The upper decks are therefore still exposed to the elements for the most part, as is the atrium and lily pond.
Inside the living quarters, which take up approximately one-third of the visible ark, there are shared spaces on the main floor, such as the kitchen, living room and dining area, with dual staircases leading to three lower levels, where the bedrooms and private areas are located.
Solar panels and a geo-thermal heating and cooling system mean that this houseboat can provide its own energy by drawing little to no power from the grid.
Oddly enough, an ark in the middle of the dry Montana landscape does not look out of place. In fact, it so fits into the scenery that, as you can see from the photos, the deer and the antelope feel right at home playing in front of it.
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