Project Description

Set on a six-acre site, this residence is poised to provide desired client privacy while orienting to impressive mountain valley views. This contemporary house is organized to engage three distinct mountain biomes: a dense evergreen forest to the south, a native Gambel Oak landscape to the north, and an Aspen grove between the two. The design goal for the home was to fit into the landscape by providing a modest yet clean and contemporary residence that mirrors the richness of the site.

Weathered steel, concrete, and wood are the primary exterior materials, and were chosen to reflect the earthy tones of the natural landscape. The house is a set of interconnected volumes comprising a main living pavilion and a guest wing. Each of these is conceived as a weathered steel box. Glass pavilions with winged roofs partially envelop the steel boxes, creating a contrast of transparency and opacity, views, and privacy. The winged roofs create south-facing clerestory strips that capture what little south light the site has to offer.

Working closely with the clients, and avid art collectors, the architects integrated opportunities to exhibit art as part of their design strategy for their world-class collection. The interior design creates dynamic relationships with strategically placed art and framed views of the house's natural surroundings to choreograph movement through the interiors, using these visual draws to prompt circulation. With oak ceilings and oak millwork throughout the house, CCY's interior design creates a warm environment, softening the concrete and steel exteriors. Eloquent sequencing of interior spaces, paired with specific light levels, allows the art to be viewed in highly curated ways. The axial procession to the entry aligns with a prominent exterior sculpture visible through a glassy link - connecting nature and art. Optimizing the sun was a priority on this north-facing site.

A careful evaluation of site and solar studies informed a floor plan configuration that captures light in strategic ways. Due to the height of vegetation and topography on the south portion of the property, the pool was placed north of the home, countering typical solar orientation strategies. Because the roof form was kept low, this north location maximized direct sun exposure for the pool. The winged roof gives the house a quiet presence on the land and provides clerestory to help balance the light in the living space.

Three distinct biomes (evergreen forest, scrub oak, and aspen forest) inform the placement of the residence. The sitting ensures that each biome is experienced from within the house. An intensive conservation strategy employed to restore and maintain the health of the landscape includes selective pruning and thinning of vegetation, removal of non-native species, and enhancing fauna habitat. New landscaping, adjacent to the residence, incorporates native and drought-tolerant species while creating a “firewise” buffer zone around the house.

The stormwater management solution, devised from extensive water flow analysis, maintains pre-development water courses. The stormwater system is self-sustaining, and gravity-fed, using no pumps. In the event of a storm-induced power outage, the system will continue to work. New landscaping employs a drip irrigation system, reducing water usage considerably compared to other types of irrigation systems. Low-flow fixtures are installed throughout the house to further reduce water consumption.

The house is designed to directly connect the owners with the surrounding site. A network of paths that meander through the six acres, is accessed from the home's terraces. The heavily forested and steep north-facing site created challenges for capturing direct sun; as a result, the pool is strategically located beyond the shadow line of the roof. Wildfire is an increasing concern in Colorado, so the roof and exterior walls of the house are constructed with materials to resist such an event.

Low-maintenance materials, Corten steel, sheet metal, and concrete, are used throughout the legacy-driven home to ensure a timeless and durable structure. The extensive millwork is the product of a regional cabinetry fabricator. Architectural metals, including decorative door hardware, were sourced from local artisans.