Cliffside Camp / Montana

Cliffside Camp Pavilion is the central dining pavilion at the resort at Paws Up in Montana. The building is surrounded by a collection of six safari-style glamping tents that allow guests to connect with the great outdoors without forgoing the creature comforts of a luxury vacation. Located near Paws Up’s famous covered bridge the pavilion is perched atop a soaring cliff that overlooks the confluence of the Blackfoot River and Elk Creek. There was an original pavilion on the project site that partially burned down to the structure in a fire, so our design challenge was to merge the bones of the old structure with a new skin. We were inspired by the origins of the word “pavilion” which meant both ‘butterfly’ and ‘tent’ because the canvas of a tent resembled a butterfly's spread wing. In many ways the Cliffside camp has undergone a transformation into something new evoking a lighter beautiful feel.

The corten panels were weathered in the rain right there on the site. We love the organic way the water naturally created a pattern on the panels. Just like the meandering of the Blackfoot river, the panels connect to the site and the natural patina will change over time. Sometimes it is best to leave it up to nature.

With every project we aim to balance the beauty with the functional. The pavilion perched on a cliff with a view of the Blackfoot river was the focus of the design. The prevailing winds from the Blackfoot river make the open-air dining area challenging – as you want to block the wind, but still get the view. Our strategy was to replace the opaque curtains that typically would remain closed (and therefore closed off from the view) with operable shutters and glass to take full advantage of the stunning location. Cliffside camp naturally faces the river – but it was important to us that the entrance (which was from the back) be considered. The corner opening allows for transparency and the natural boulders from the property guide your path to the pavilion.