Project Description
Sited on a steeply sloped plot on prestigious Red Mountain, the Aspen
Residence in Aspen, Colo., is surrounded by panoramic vistas: To the
west lie views of the town, to the south, swathes of as-yet undeveloped,
heavily wooded landscape.
Designed by San Francisco-based Aidlin
Darling Design, the house itself is designed to take best advantage of
the site. It contrasts heavy concrete and stone with lighter wood and
glass to modulate and frame the views, maximizing those of the
landscape, and minimizing those of the neighboring houses and road to
ensure privacy. A water roof on the lower level hides the other homes
down the slope and reflects the mountainous landscape, amplifying this
carefully crafted image of seclusion in nature.
Intended to be a
year-round house, the site includes a conscientious energy strategy:
high-efficiency insulation and radiant heating keep it warm in winter,
while passive cooling and a heat recovery ventilation system helps
modulate the temperature in the warmer summer. A bio-retention pond
controls storm runoff, and a green roof reduces the heat island effect.
The result is a thoughtfully detailed modernist retreat that proves that
form and function can coexist. —Katie Gerfen