Overview

Architect Victor Steinbrueck worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps in WA State, where they worked on many mountain parks. These two designs for "deep snow country" and "lower snowfall regions" suggest the impact of his mountain work experience and personal enjoyment of skiing.

Building History

Steinbrueck produced two plans designed for two different climatic regions, the first a cross-gabled chalet with steeply pitched roofs. Of this design, Steinbrueck said: "A small ski hut of conventional design capable of sleeping about ten people. Features: Huge shuttered window in the living room for winter light....Natural stone fireplace with snow sheltered chimney...Entrances at different levels as snow increases...Steep shaked roof, to be built of rough-split cedar siding or shakes." The other design for ski areas with lower annual snowfall reflected contemporary Modern ski chalet designs, such as William Wurster's design for Hannes Schroll's Sugarbowl Lodge in CA (1939). Modern ski lodges of this period often had steeply-pitched shed-roofed main living rooms, joined with lower shed roofed bunkhouse sections. Steinbrueck stated of the latter building type: "A contemporary design for a ski hut. Features: high sloping ceiling in living room with large double-glazed windows...Adaptability of plan for various sleeping accommodations affording considerable privacy...Sun porch for spring sunbathing." Both plans could be purchased from Ski Illustrated magazine "at a nominal charge." (See Victor Steinbrueck, "Ski Hut Designs," Ski Illustrated, vol. IV, no. 1, 11/1939, inside front cover and p. 1.)

PCAD id: 19518