Eddy Svidgal has a real enthusiasm for living and designing homes in the Sun Valley area. “I share with my clients a great love for this place. First and foremost is the natural beauty of the mountains, and the setting it provides for outdoor enjoyments like skiing, cycling, fishing, hiking and golf. It is because of this that so many people who visit Sun Valley fall in love with this simple, unspoiled lifestyle and decide to spend more time here,” he said. Working in the Sun Valley area since 1990, and owning his own firm since 1994, Svidgal’s architecture reflects this love of place. Softly sited, his homes celebrate the land, the views and the lifestyles of their owners.
Timeless beauty and sensitivity to site mark Svidgal’s architectural designs. Even his new construction appears established and enduring. Perhaps this can be attributed to his early years, growing up in the 10th century European town of Tallinn, Estonia, on the shores of the Gulf of Finland.
His recent design for a residence on Emerald Meadows Ranch, a 64-acre working ranch in Bellevue, demonstrates this attention to time and place. The home replaced one that had been destroyed by fire a few years ago. Owner Dick Barker requested the use of recycled and reused building materials as much as possible in his new home. He also wished for a home that felt as if it had always been there.
The result is a house that sits on the property as quietly and steadily as Gary Cooper waits to draw his gun in the movie “High Noon.” The home is rooted amid golden hillsides and hayfields ... a deep rust-colored porch wraps around the weathered wood siding in the classic western ranch style. Inside, firelight washes over stone, and wood offers its own golden brown hues. Ceiling heights vary to create grandeur or intimacy, depending upon the intent of the space. To remind those inside of the raw beauty of the ranch outside, Svidgal carefully placed windows at eye level in the dining room and kitchen; and floor to ceiling windows in the great room provide more dramatic vistas.
Fulfilling Dick Barker’s desire to make the home look well-established, Svidgal relied on the inherent timeless qualities of reclaimed timber, which was worked with fine, cabinetry- level craftsmanship into timbered ceilings, floors, and paneling, thanks to contractor Blair Sturges. Outside, with the use of log siding and elaborate, dovetail-notched corners, the home appears as if it were a log cabin, similar to the original homesteads in the area. However, Svidgal decided against true log construction because of the inherent maintenance problems, a tendency toward settlement, and substantially lower insulating values compared with contemporary construction.
As his architecture evolves, Eddy Svidgal becomes more concerned about building quality, maintenance issues and energy conservation. While he didn’t pursue green building certification (like LEED), Svidgal is confident that the Barker home would come close to meeting the criteria. To him, it is just a part of his approach to designing lasting buildings. “I look at energy costs and maintenance when evaluating the project, and encourage clients to consider alternative energy systems and new building materials,” he said. In the case of the Emerald Meadows home, the beautiful faux slate roof tiles are actually made from recycled tires and plastic bottles.
This architect’s attention to detail adds to the enduring, established look of the Barker’s new 8,000 square-foot home, tennis court, and grounds. “I’m not one of those architects who vanish when we pull the permit. I stay with the project from the first handshake to the last door knob,” said Svidgal.
Eddy Svidgal Architects, AIA, is available for consultation by calling 208-726-1014. An extensive portfolio of completed projects can be viewed on the gallery portion of their website at www.eddysvidgalarchitects.com.