Freedom House by Ward + Blake Architects
Freedom House by Ward + Blake Architects sits on a mesa between Wyoming and Idaho, using rammed earth, concrete, and passive solar strategies to create a biophilic, resilient desert retreat.
Set on a small natural mesa at 7,000 feet above sea level, the Freedom House by Ward + Blake Architects embodies the ethos of The Wave of Sustainable Design. Surrounded by panoramic desert views and distant mountain ranges, the residence is both a sanctuary of solitude and a case study in environmentally attuned architecture.
The design is composed of two rectangular volumes joined by a glazed central pavilion. Acting simultaneously as front and rear entry, this transparent connector blurs the threshold between interior and exterior, immersing daily life in the rhythms of the surrounding landscape.
Earth, Stone, and Light
The house’s stabilized rammed earth walls, crafted with decomposed lava found on-site, are not just structure but living material. They provide natural thermal mass, storing solar heat by day and releasing it as temperatures drop at night. Alongside polished concrete floors, the system regulates indoor comfort year-round, reducing reliance on mechanical heating and cooling.
Large cantilevered roof overhangs extend protection against the summer sun while inviting passive solar gain in winter, ensuring energy efficiency is seamlessly woven into the architectural form.
Refined Resilience
While rooted in raw earth tones, the palette is elevated with Venetian plaster and Shou Sugi Ban siding—a poetic juxtaposition of refined craft and elemental ruggedness. These materials were selected to withstand the extreme conditions of high desert life, offering durability while celebrating contrast.
The result is a home that is at once resilient, biophilic, and deeply attuned to its place. Every wall, surface, and opening is calibrated to respond to the land—an architecture that rests lightly while resonating powerfully.
Project Credits
Project: Freedom House
Location: Western Wyoming / Eastern Idaho, USA
Architects: Ward + Blake Architects
Photography: Gabe Border
Materials: Stabilized rammed earth, polished concrete, Venetian plaster, Shou Sugi Ban wood
Freedom House exemplifies The Wave of Sustainable Design: architecture that is grounded in place, crafted with endurance, and harmonized with the cycles of nature.
