Sited at a fold in the landscape, marked by a change in ground slope, a boulder strewn hillside meets a gentler incline south of Castle Rock, Colorado, this house celebrates the spirit of its place.
It is anchored to the site by cast concrete walls and a double-height glass-and-wood pavilion. The latter lends sense of being out-of-doors while the former provides secure shelter in this highly energy-efficient home. The building footprint was carefully mapped within the forest of pine and scrub oak in order to protect the existing old-growth trees. This careful siting also allowed balancing long western views with more intimate, privileged outdoor rooms against the steep hillside to the east. Carefully proportioned overhangs and a syncopated pattern of cedar columns modulate sun exposure and heat gain throughout the seasons.
The home, the first modern dwelling welcomed by the neighborhood HOA, is clad in durable, low-maintenance materials: weathering steel and board-formed concrete that naturally age, gaining patinas in harmony with the pine bark and stone of the site. Nestled against its hillside site and open to nature, the house provides a backdrop for the family to spend their time enjoying the site and a sympathetic framework for their collection of contemporary art.
A Jewel-Box Home in Colorado | Mountain Living | June 2018