Architectural House Prickly Mountain

This architectural showpiece is a high-concept concrete manse featuring well-designed details from FAIA Architect David Sellers, such as a curving staircase, exposed concrete structural elements, double height ceilings and open views.

PLEASE READ description carefully and ask questions prior to booking. This is an unusual home and we want to make sure it is a good fit for you!

There are 3 beds, 3 baths, open floor plan kitchen, living and dining area and small grassy yard with a view, tucked away in the forest on Prickly Mountain Rd, Warren in the Mad River Valley
The space
Dubbed the House of the Future by its architect FAIA David Sellers, this grand concrete manse is located on famed Prickly Mountain, overlooking Blueberry Lake and the Mad River Valley. Prickly Mountain is a design-build community in Warren, VT founded by architect David Sellers. This home, his most recent project, features a dramatic double-height living space plus a large atrium with a green plant wall. A 9-foot by 18-foot glass wall slides open to a central living area that acts like a greenhouse.

Built to be sustainable, the house runs primarily on solar power and geothermal energy.

Completely one of a kind, nearly every detail in the house is custom built.
There are whimsical touches of humor throughout the home, such as an imprint of a computer keyboard randomly embedded in a concrete ceiling, a “take-out” window off the kitchen modeled after a creemee stand; a wall made of stacked, unfinished pieces of wood.

Built by local craftsman, the staircase was fashioned from laminated plywood, molding it into an elegant curved shape. The arched ceilings are the structural frame that the concrete was molded over. The rail on the balcony was made using lumber cut from the ceiling beams. On top of one pillar sits a giant glass lampshade from the New York Plaza Hotel, fashioned like a flame. Closet doors, wall plates and switch covers are made from the slate of old school blackboards. Closets are moveable plywood structures with pointy roofs.

The 1,800-square-foot house is configured with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, each located on a different level of the home.
The house features the following:

Three bedrooms and three full bathrooms:
-- Primary bedroom with queen size bed, private balcony and attached bathroom. Note that there is no door between the primary bedroom and bathroom, so there is limited privacy. This bedroom is up a half-flight of stairs from the main living space on the mezzanine level of the house. The back wall to the bedroom can be rolled open in summer time, and the bed rolled outside for those who would like to experience sleeping under the stars. The primary bathroom features a large sculpted concrete soaking tub and sculptural bathroom vanity.
-- Second Bedroom/Den: Located on the first floor, this bedroom is found at the end of a hallway with arched ceilings. This room has large windows on two sides. A handle in a wall pulls out, revealing a hide-away queen-sized bed. This room may be used as an office, den or bedroom with its flexible layout. A bathroom with a shower is located of the hallway just outside this bedroom.
--Third bedroom. Located on the top floor with open overlooks to the main living space, the third bedroom is spacious with a queen size bed plus an additional sleeping area with two twin mattresses. The third bathroom is located just outside this bedroom, and has a rain shower.
--Office: On the top floor of the house is a desk/work station.
--Living Room: The large living room has two large sofas, a coffee table made from live edge wood as well as a grand wood-burning fireplace. Please use extra caution with the fire place, and never leave a fire unattended.
-- Spacious kitchen including electric range with oven, refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher and microwave
--Washer and Dryer
--Wireless Internet
--Radiant heated floors
--Spacious private driveway and covered carport.
--Large mud room entrance with plenty of space to hang jackets, and store outdoor gear.
Guest access
Guests will have full access to the house. There is a basement and a storage area across from the house where the owners store some items.
THINGS TO NOTE

There are many interesting views and windows throughout the house, so if privacy from other houseguests is a top concern, please take this into consideration. The primary bedroom and upstairs bedroom do not have solid walls so there is no sound privacy in those two bedrooms. There are also frosted glass enclosures on the bathrooms with some clear glass so depending on where occupants of the house are there is limited privacy from other occupants. This can make for a fun experience but if privacy from members of your group is a top concern, this home is not for you. There is near total privacy from neighbors as the home is in a secluded location and surrounded by trees.

This is a country location, so you may encounter critters in the house including country mice, chipmunks, spiders, ants during your stay. Please let us know right away if you do encounter any mice so we can take appropriate action, but we do believe in a humane response. It is best to avoid leaving food out in the open. Also, while this house has amazing outdoor/indoor flow, please note that if the rolling walls or doors are left open mosquitos will enter the home. Please be sure to close these by early evening to minimize the presence of mosquitos and other critters entering.

In the winter, especially during periods of heavy snow, it may not be possible for the driveway or walkway to be plowed promptly as the local plow companies all get overwhelmed. There are snow shovels available for your use. Of course, we will do our best to get the plow service out there as soon as possible.

The house has a radiant heat system powered by geothermal energy. It does a great job of maintaining an ambient heat level in the 60s. However, during periods of extreme cold the house temperature may be cold (high 40s to 50s indoors) so please be prepared to wear warm clothes inside. Also the radiant system is designed to bring indoor temps into the mids 60s to low 70s. There are extra space heaters in the home to be used as needed, as well as extra blankets.

If you are looking for a house full of creative energy and quirks this house is for you. If you are looking for a hotel experience where everything is sanitized and perfect, this house is not for you.

The home is located on a dirt road, so 4 wheel drive is highly, highly recommended in the winter and mud season. Tow service also can be slow in this rural location.

There are no window shades, if you plan to sleep in an eye mask is recommended.

There is no TV in the home, but there is wifi if you would like to stream on your own device.