Superb vision. spectacular siting. timeless design. highly sustainable.

With views to tomorrow of The Pioneers, Sun Valley, Ketchum and Bald Mountain, Elevation 6000's four Ruscitto/Latham/Blanton Architectura-designed luxury residences are constructed almost entirely of concrete with the most sophisticated and sustainable methods and materials available. They will endure for generations to come. Well-considered space offers flexibility for a broad range of interior design approaches. Only two remaining.

Vision

Ed Fenwick and wife Corneil Therrien, the project's owners, are the visionaries for Elevation 6000. "I think buildings should be here forever, so that drove the concrete construction," Ed explained. Corneil wanted views to Baldy and the Pioneer range. Consequently, to their wish list they added sunshine, views and homes that can conveniently store all the gear and equipment associated with a resort lifestyle.

siting.

As with most development projects, the site's issues created a dialogue about opportunities and challenges. The Warm Springs location combines a quiet, gracious neighborhood. Within a two-block walk to the ski lift, so in a sense you can enjoy a serene residential setting without the noise and hubbub typical of living right in the resort. The hillside location opens to spectacular views of the Pioneer Mountains and Sun Valley Resort's Bald Mountain. For those accustomed to view lots in other resort communities, the lack of them in Ketchum and the Wood River Valley is surprising. The answer to the question of why so few view lots is the rigor of local hillside development ordinances. Ken Corrock explained that the requirements mandate buildings to blend into the hillside and the steepness of the slopes demand that buildings be designed for an avalanche zone, essentially meaning the roof can withstand the weight of a dump truck on top of it.

Design

When the project progressed to design, the issues were clearly on the table: highly sustainable, timeless, built to last, opening to views of the spectacular scenery, visually blending into the hillside, open to adequate solar exposure, and able structurally to withstand an avalanche. Ruscitto/Latham/Blanton Architectura, a Ketchum firm known for its innovative designs, addressed these concerns in a vertical design that climbs and burrows into the hillside. The uncluttered massing of small forms and multiple rooflines offer a pleasing scale for the four-leveled homes.

The four homes are each approximately 3,700 squarefeet in area with some slight variations by unit, a size that balances the space needs for a comfortable lifestyle while controlling the demand for resources. "Well-considered space fulfills the same needs as larger homes that were built in the past," explained Corrock. "These homes are a manageable size with rooms that are sufficiently ample in space." There are three full bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a den that includes a bed for essentially a fourth bedroom. The garage is at ground level, and the living space and bedrooms step above for panoramic views. An elevator connects the floors.

Ed and Corneil insisted on a superabundance of storage, storage that is necessary to accommodate a recreational lifestyle and transitioning the home from part to full time. "There is the same storage in these homes as those twice or three times larger," Ken Corrock pointed out, indicating the wine room behind the garage area and the storage available in conjunction with the stairways because of the home's verticality.

sustainability.

The choice of concrete as the main construction material addresses numerous concerns for durability, strength, and sustainability. The strength of the concrete buildings meets local hillside ordinances for snow load and avalanches (there isn't a record for snow slides at this location, but it is a requirement for all hillside developments) and concrete is fire resistant should summertime grass fires burn on the mountain. The concrete design is also key to the buildings" energy efficiency. As explained by Ken Corrock, more than half of each home's structure backs into the earth for a constant temperature of 55° F. Radiant systems are built into the concrete to further raise temperatures. "It's as green technically as can be done," explained Corrock.