Skyfall

The collaboration nature of Skyfall is the first of its kind in the Kansas City area. The client’s vision was to create a stunning home that also will serve as a showcase of work and products from key partners. This unique approach required the selection all project partners at the outset, allowing the architect, interior designer, engineers and builder to establish a unified vision. This early alignment shaped every stage of Skyfall, a modern prairie-style home in North Kansas City. 

Material selection also began early, guiding the design as architects evaluated the client’s preferred products alongside the building form. Understanding how each material would work with the design led to a holistic, material centric approach that creates intentional architectural moments throughout the home. 

A floating shadow box defines the exterior and sets the tone for the home’s modern expression. Large windows draw natural light deep into the interior, where exposed beams, steel details and metal awnings reinforce the contemporary aesthetic. A floating staircase stretches through the main living area and connects each level. 

The floor plan was crafted around the client’s daily routines and long-term needs. Certain spaces such as a library at the entrance and separate guest quarters were intentionally set apart to create intimacy and provide acoustic separation, contrasting the openness of the two-story great room that anchors the living and kitchen areas. A shower in the laundry room offers convenient cleanup after time spent on the property, and entertainment spaces span both the main and lower level. The home includes four bedrooms and four and a half baths, with the lower level designed for potential expansion of up to two additional bedrooms.  

One key structural challenge was navigating the roof drainage. To minimize visible gutters and downspouts, architects introduced a slight pitch to an otherwise flat roof, allowing water to drain effectively without disrupting the modern exterior form. 

An elevated outdoor living experience was also a priority. A private main level patio offers a quiet retreat, while an additional patio with an outdoor kitchen and an all–seasons entertaining room surrounded by glass provides active gathering areas and frames views of the landscape on both floors. 

Partners   

• Kali Buchanan Interior Design  

• Apex Structural Engineers  

• Homoly Design Build