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Beauty in the Grain: How a Colorado Mountain Home Was Brought to Life With Redwood Cladding
CategoriesArchitecture

Beauty in the Grain: How a Colorado Mountain Home Was Brought to Life With Redwood Cladding

By Zarkon Group,

A home’s materials tell a story of how we live. Nestled in the picturesque mountains of Colorado stands a remarkable testament to sustainable material sourcing. Brought to fruition by Colorado Springs-based architect-engineer Scott Harvey, this mountain home was made to connect with the natural surroundings as an expansive and open retreat. In turn, the project’s redwood cladding reflects a family’s values as they built a home of their own.

A Family Home in the Mountains

Located in the mountains north of Colorado Springs in the town of Monument, this home was made for an active family with five children. The family was hoping for a home that embraced natural light and views out onto the landscape. Working together with builder Palmer Ridge Construction, the team brought the new, 10,538 square-foot home to life with seven bedrooms and expansive glazing. Outside, the home features an unadorned stucco finish and a continuous, seamless band of wood cladding. This warm, redwood band runs non-stop from the exterior through the interior.

The Colorado Mountain Home features an extensive use of redwood from Humboldt Sawmill. Humboldt Sawmill manufactures a full line of redwood and Douglas-fir wood products. Logs are sourced from nearly 450,000 acres of company-owned timberlands, where harvest levels are consistently below the forests’ annual growth rate and harvested trees are replanted. Logs are then processed into lumber.

For this home, the builder had Humboldt Sawmill transport the raw lumber to a dealer in Colorado where it was milled locally to the desired shiplap pattern. Local availability kept the cost within budget. In addition, it was easier to install than tropical hardwoods and no stain was required; only two coats of clear sealer. Redwood, known for its durability, beauty and sustainability, adds warmth to the design and creates a seamless transition from the interior to the exterior of the home.

Sustainable Sourcing

Photo by Kelly Edmondson

What sets this mountain home apart is not just its design but also its commitment to sustainability. The redwood from Humboldt Sawmill was sourced from company-owned Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC® C013133) certified timberlands in Northern California, where it is grown and harvested to the highest environmental standards in the world. FSC certification ensures that products come from forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. The FSC Principles and Criteria provide a foundation for all forest management standards globally, including the FSC® US National Standard (v1.0) that guides forest management certification in the U.S.

This commitment to sustainability not only reduces the home’s carbon footprint but also supports the conservation of forests for future generations.

Key Properties of Redwood

Photo by Kelly Edmondson

Redwood is renowned for its natural beauty and resilience, making it an ideal choice for this mountain home. Redwood is also native to the U.S., not imported. There are several key properties of redwood that make it a preferred building material:

Durability: Redwood heartwood from the center of the tree is naturally resistant to decay and insects, making it an excellent choice for outdoor applications such as siding, decking and fencing. As the team for the Colorado Mountain Home explain, “natural durability through tannins in the redwood heartwood render the wood resistant to termites and decay, an important factor in the home’s mountain environment.”

Aesthetic Appeal: Redwood’s rich color and grain patterns add a touch of elegance and warmth to homes and commercial projects alike. Its natural beauty only enhances over time, developing a patina that adds to the charm of a building.

Sustainability: Redwood is a renewable resource, with the ability to regrow from the stump after harvesting. When sourced from responsibly managed forests, redwood is a sustainable building material that helps reduce the environmental impact of construction.

Workability: Redwood is easy to work with, making it a favorite among architects and builders. It can be easily cut, shaped and installed, allowing for intricate designs and detailing that enhance the overall aesthetics of the home.

Built to Last: A Home for Future Generations

Photo by Kelly Edmondson

At the heart of this Colorado home is the contrast between materials: the natural white Brauer veneer stone and stark white stucco stand out against the warmth of the redwood. Expansive windows open up to views of ponderosa pines and scrub oaks, while inside, the home features white oak flooring and custom cabinets. From these rooms, multiple patios and decks flow together to bring the family outside and create connections to their surroundings.

Photo by Kelly Edmondson

The Colorado mountain home stands as a testament to the harmonious relationship between nature and design. Through the use of Humboldt Sawmill’s redwood sourced from responsibly managed forests, this home not only showcases the beauty and durability of this remarkable material but also highlights the importance of working with the right manufacturers and builders. Today, the home tells a story of family, warmth and connectedness through its details and construction.

To learn more about how you can harness the unique qualities of redwood for your next project, reach out to the experts at Humboldt Sawmill.

Reference

Post Company imbues Mollie Aspen hotel interiors with earthy hues
CategoriesInterior Design

Post Company imbues Mollie Aspen hotel interiors with earthy hues

By Zarkon Group,

New York studio Post Company has designed warm, wood-filled interiors for a boutique hotel in Aspen, Colorado, which offers a pared-back take on the Arts and Crafts style.

Mollie Aspen occupies a new timber-clad building designed by CCY Architects and developed and operated by HayMax in the mountain city’s downtown area.

Lobby lounge at Mollie Aspen with earth-toned furniture and a gridded wood ceilingLobby lounge at Mollie Aspen with earth-toned furniture and a gridded wood ceiling
With an open fireplace as a backdrop, the lobby lounge at Mollie Aspen features earth-toned furniture and a gridded wood ceiling

Post Company was tasked with creating the interiors for the 68-room hotel, combining contemporary Scandinavian and Japanese design elements for a serene take on Rocky Mountain luxury.

“Mollie is designed for those with a natural curiosity and appreciation for connection and offers visitors a unique, welcoming respite in the bustling mountain town,” said the hotel’s team.

All-day cafe in the Mollie Aspen lobby All-day cafe in the Mollie Aspen lobby
An all-day cafe in the lobby serves pastries and beverages from a walnut-wrapped counter

An abundance of wood can be found throughout the different spaces, with numerous varieties creating a layered effect of different colours and grain patterns.

The timber is crafted into elements like gridded wall and ceiling panels with built-in lighting, which evoke an Arts and Crafts aesthetic, as well as fluted counterfronts and a range of furniture pieces.

Burl wood counters and displays in a retail spaceBurl wood counters and displays in a retail space
Burl wood counters and displays present goods in the hotel’s retail space

The majority of the materials used in Mollie’s construction were sourced from the Western United States to reduce waste, according to the team.

Meanwhile, other accents like earthen ceramics, hand-dyed textiles and sand-casted brass add to the cosy atmosphere.

Guest room with neutral decorGuest room with neutral decor
Guest rooms offer an even more pared-back take on the neutral decor palette

“These materials are incorporated throughout the hotel to mimic the area’s rough-hewn mountains while large windows frame views of the surrounding landscape and bring an abundance of light into the hotel,” said the team.

The lobby lounge is designed as a cosy gathering space for guests and the public, with a large open fireplace providing a backdrop.

Beige plaster walls and textured carpet in a guest roomBeige plaster walls and textured carpet in a guest room
Beige plaster walls and textured carpets complement the wood ceilings in the guest rooms

Chunky leather, velvet and boucle sofas and armchairs in a range of earthy hues form comfy conversation nooks.

At one end of the room, the black-topped bar spans the full width and is illuminated by a row of globe-shaped pendant lights suspended from thin brass bars.

Guest suite with black leather furniture and snowy mountain viewsGuest suite with black leather furniture and snowy mountain views
Black leather furniture in the larger suites offers a contrast to the other furniture pieces and snowy mountain views

A repeated geometric pattern across the pale counter front is also found on door panels leading to other hotel areas.

An all-day cafe at the opposite end of the lobby serves pastries and an assortment of beverages from a walnut-wrapped counter, and the restaurant

Bathroom with dark green tiles and freestanding white bathtubBathroom with dark green tiles and freestanding white bathtub
Dark green tiles in the bathrooms match the spruce trees outside

In the adjacent retail space, burl wood counters and displays with curved edges, some of which are topped with glass vitrines.

On the third floor is a roof terrace with a bar and a spa pool set to open in Spring 2024, while a fitness facility and flexible meeting space are located at ground level.

The guest rooms continue the soft, neutral palette in a more pared-back style.

Beige plaster walls, textured carpets and green-grey curtains complement the wood ceilings and built-in furniture, while black leather chairs add contrast.

Mollie Apsen entrance with logo on the entrance canopyMollie Apsen entrance with logo on the entrance canopy
Mollie Aspen is located within a newly constructed building by CCY Architects

Dark green stacked tiles that line the bathrooms match the spruce trees outside and freestanding tubs beside the windows allow guests to enjoy the view while soaking.

“Guests are left with a sense of Aspen’s cultural and recreational history, providing a lens to appreciate its contemporary personality and influence,” the team said.

Mollie Aspen's wood-clad exteriorMollie Aspen's wood-clad exterior
The building was constructed largely from materials sourced from the Western US

Aspen is a renowned destination for winter sports and affluent vacationers, and CCY Architects has designed several private residences in and around the town – among them an extension to a Victorian house, a residence nestled in a grassy valley and a retreat that overlooks the dramatic mountainous scenery.

Formerly known as Studio Tack, Post Company’s previous hotel projects include the Anvil Hotel in Wyoming, The Sandman in California, and Scribner’s Catskill Lodge in New York.

The photography is by Nicole Franzen.

Reference

CCY architects hides this DNA alpine cabin in the colorado rockies
CategoriesArchitecture

CCY architects hides this DNA alpine cabin in the colorado rockies

By Zarkon Group,

a mountain hideaway for nature-lovers

 

Deep into the rugged wilderness of Colorado‘s San Miguel County, this newly completed house known as DNA Alpine has been crafted by CCY Architects. This secluded retreat high in the Rocky Mountains offers a tranquil retreat for a family who had owned and loved the 70-acre plot of land for over two decades. Their wish for a permanent dwelling — from which they could hike, snowshoe, and cross-country ski — led to the design of this humble trio of cabins. Perched along the northern edge of a gentle bowl and backdropped by towering spruce trees, the copper-clad dwelling results from the owners’ intimate knowledge of the site. Their commitment to preserving the environment led to the structure’s minimal footprint on the land.

 

‘Accessible by car only in summer, occupants must reach the cabins by snowshoe in the winter months,‘ writes CCY Architects, describing the unique remoteness of the forested site.

CCY architects hides a remote, copper-clad cabin deep in the colorado rockiesimages © Jeremy Bittermann / JBSA

 

 

ccy architects clusters a trio of cabins

 

In a thoughtful response to the hidden site’s challenging topography, CCY Architects divided DNA Alpine into three distinct buildings: the main house, garage, and sauna. This division allowed each structure to respectfully adapt to the natural contours of the land, weaving between the existing trees. These buildings are linked together by a network of walking paths.

 

To ensure space for gatherings across generations, the architects employed a clever strategy of multi-functional areas. Instead of allocating space for four dedicated bedrooms, a flexible room serves as an office or sleeping area with two daybeds, while a sleeping loft is nestled beneath the sloping roof. The outcome is a beautifully designed home that accommodates both the family and the environment it inhabits.

CCY architects hides a remote, copper-clad cabin deep in the colorado rockies

 

 

‘The clients wanted a generational house that respected their land, so we paid close attention to the scale of the structures,’ Consulting Principal John Cottle, FAIA tells designboom. ‘The house lives large, with flowing spaces, but because of the folded roof the highest point is only fourteen feet above the undulating topography. It’s a statement of deference to the beauty of the landscape.’

CCY architects hides a remote, copper-clad cabin deep in the colorado rockies
the copper cladding pattern mirrors the DNA sequence of the site’s heritage spruce trees

 

 

dna alpine’s namesake copper cladding

 

For the cladding of its DNA Alpine, CCY Architects turned to copper sheeting, which was carefully formed into four profiles that could be arranged in any pattern. Inspired by the client’s interest in synthetic biology, the chosen pattern mirrors the DNA sequence of the heritage spruce trees that encircle the house. This non-repetitive sequence wraps the structure, creating a dynamic and slightly reflective facade that interacts with the changing daylight. As seasons pass, the cladding will gracefully patina, further harmonizing the house with its natural surroundings.

CCY architects hides a remote, copper-clad cabin deep in the colorado rockies
the angular, sloping roof is expressed along the interiors CCY architects hides a remote, copper-clad cabin deep in the colorado rockiesthe trio of cabins are linked by a network of footpaths

Reference