MMW ARCHITECTS

"The purpose of being at the lake is to be outside. We get to play, and when we are done, we have somewhere for everyone to sleep. That's a good day in my book." — Traci Punke

Grab a copy of this month's featuring our Finley Point Cottage as the cover story! From zoning and site challenges to developing a distinctive color and material palette that is both traditional and fresh - the home is connected to place and packed full of cottage character. Find a copy anywhere magazines are sold or go to the link below for the full article to learn more about this one of a kind property on the shores of Flathead Lake.

https://www.mountainliving.com/shorething/

See more photos on the MMW website:
https://www.mmwarchitects.com/portfolio/finley-point-remodel/

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The Birnbaum Youth Home offers a safe, therapeutic place for youth in crisis to breathe, heal, and find their footing. The facility is more than just a shelter. Young people will have a stable place to continue their education, maintain connection to their support systems, and access mental and physical health services, helping them retain a sense of normalcy and belonging.

Nestled in the rural Orchard Homes neighborhood, it offers a warm, home-like environment where up to eight young people have their own space and the support they need to regain stability. The program is split between a main residence and a nearby barn. Staff parking, storage, and the carport are all tucked into the barn area so the residential grounds can stay open, peaceful, and kid-friendly.

The residence takes inspiration from classic local farmhouses, with bright blue clapboard siding, a gabled roof with shed dormers, and plenty of natural light from large windows. Outside, youth can enjoy a basketball court, open lawn, covered porch, and a healing garden filled with native plants, a trellis, and places to sit and reflect.

Inside, all bedrooms connect to a central vaulted great room. Soft off-white walls, white oak floors and cabinetry, and warm cedar ceiling planks create a calm, home-like atmosphere that supports comfort and healing.

The Birnbaum Youth Home is nearly ready to open its doors. Support the campaign — link here: https://youthhomesmt.org/shelter/

Best Lake House 2026. Floating House has earned top honors from the Sunset Magazine Design Awards. Thank you to the jury and congrats to Angie, Claire, Gabe, and the whole team.

Check out all the winners in the link below or wherever fine magazines are sold.

Photography by Gibeon Photography

MMW Architects MMW Architects is an award-winning architecture firm based in Missoula, Montana. We are committed to making a positive contribution to the built environment while working in harmony with the natural environment. We create places that enrich life’s daily rituals and activities through beauty and ef...

It's hard to believe its been 20 years since the completion of Orchard Gardens with Homeword - a project which exemplified our goals of providing affordable, sustainably-built housing with a true connection to place.

Andi Armstrong writes: "Given the real need for more affordable housing in Missoula, it’s tempting to think of elements like energy efficiency and green infrastructure as luxuries we can’t afford. In fact, the opposite is true. As climate impacts accelerate and budgets continue to be stretched, Orchard Gardens remains a shining example of how we can build the future we all want, with affordable, healthy and safe homes."

https://missoulacurrent.com/climate-connections-sustainability/

Earlier this month, Chris Haskell joined a panel at the Precast Concrete Institute Mountain States Meeting in Missoula to discuss the Sierra Pacific showroom and warehouse — from precast wall panel design and project delivery to how the building is performing today.

Grateful for the conversation and the collaborators who made the project possible.

We are honored to be working with Amy and the entire team at Youth Homes to bring this much needed youth crisis shelter to the Missoula community. Now that the official public fundraising campaign has launched we are excited to share more about this project as construction wraps up this summer.

New Missoula Youth Crisis Shelter Named After Beloved Community Member Youth Homes launched a fundraising campaign for a new therapeutic crisis shelter in Missoula, naming it after late community leader Geoff Birnbaum.