Wedge House

Sited at the base of a Colorado ski area, this ski-in ski-out home is informed by the immediate and surrounding landscape the clients so
passionately appreciate. Working in close collaboration with the clients, the home is a brilliant reflection of their energetic approach to design, creating a completely customized home that expresses their needs, both for family and friends alike. Though the original intent was for a seasonal ski retreat, the residence came to capture and reflect so much of the clients themselves that soon after construction the project became their primary home.

In a neighborhood characterized by a jumble of architectural styles and scales, the concept was to create a form whose clarity would provide a sense of order and whose views would open toward the ski runs and a larger-than-life mountain landscape. The subtly sloping roof-line creates a natural extension of the land and captures the outstanding views to the distant mountain ranges. The resulting wedge-shaped form is clad in natural fir siding, the tone of which stands apart from the surrounding built and natural landscape, underscoring its object-like quality.

To create a sense of openness and connection to the more immediate forests and ridge-lines, the wedge is sculpted. Where the wood form has been carved away, steel and glass surfaces are incorporated to create a clear distinction from the sheltering wood. A charcoal gray stucco base weaves its way from the lower level up through the entry to house the third level bedroom program in a quiet, recessive form, leaving the natural wood as the dominant visual impression.

On the main level, public and private spaces are bifurcated by the entry hallway: public areas face westward to capture the magic of the setting sun, while bedrooms are located in the eastern section of the home to provide a quiet tranquility for rest. The expansive western views highlight the distant ridge-lines, while the eastern views focus on an intimate grove of Aspen trees.

Much of what makes this home so special and unique is the energy brought in by the client, who worked closely with the design team to
realize a space that celebrates the surrounding beauty, but also accommodates the design-forward interests of the owners. Drawing from the themes the client explores in her own jewelry design practice, the interiors are a textured reflection of the client’s aesthetics, blending decorative metals, reclaimed woods, and soft fabrics, sculpted to create a tension between the quiet exterior and bold interior spaces. Each room has its own personality, and yet all the spaces are unified by a consistency in textural and material selections. As the client puts it, “this home feels like heaven.”