The project program included; thermal efficiency, ski-in/ski-out capability, access to distant mountain views, ground floor privacy and security, outdoor experience through all seasons, enough space to entertain large parties over an extended weekend and a sizeable mudroom space for ski equipment with access to the ski trail.

As a ski-house at a higher elevation in Vermont, the primary objectives of Lift House were to create a tight thermal envelope and to clad the residence in weather-resistant durable materials. The house is insulated with closed-cell insulation with R-15 below slab, R-34 walls and an R-60 roof. Ventilation is controlled through an HRV system. The primary glass walls are triple-paned with two layers of low-emission coating and an overall U-value of 0.22. At ground level the house is clad in corten steel to prevent wear and tear from skis and drifting snow. The deep roof overhangs of the cedar-clad volume protect the house and provide solar shading in the summer and solar heating in the winter. A previous residence had burned down on the site of the house and an effort was made to retain and reutilize the existing infrastructure on the property. A landscape of new vegetation functions to increase surface water infiltration, reduce erosion, and provide additional slope stabilization.