Situated inside Big Sky, Montana’s iconic Yellowstone Club, BāBā is a new take on Asian-inspired cuisine. BraytonHughes Design Studios’ Joel Villalon—who worked in collaboration with architecture firm Hart Howerton—sought to create an atmosphere centered around “a modern barn-inspired design that is both flexible and inviting.” Comfy leather-and-wood armchairs are a perfect vantage point from which to enjoy 360-degree views of the Rocky Mountains (and, of course, a leisurely meal). Agricultural-inspired finishes take the form of weathered-wood planks on the walls and ceilings, hammered-steel plates, seeded glass on light fixtures, and stone quarried in Montana. In a nod to the state’s lumber and timber industries, the firm chose Douglas-fir timbers for the support beams, drawing attention to the intricate octagonal-shaped ceiling. “We wanted the ambience at BāBā to be as dynamic during the day as it is at night,” says Villalon. “The restaurant is lit by natural daylight, and when it gets dark outside, sconces suspended from a ring of timber columns invoke a rhythm around the room and a warm, welcoming feeling.” yellowstoneclub.com
