Nestled into a high alpine meadow surrounded by aspen trees, the site has sweeping views to the south and inhabits an avalanche path from the north. The design strives to merge the owners’ high regard for the natural environment and their taste for modern forms. Five key architectural elements guided the design:
• A strong connection to the outdoors through exterior courtyards and green spaces that create a dialog between interior and exterior
• A series of datum lines originating from topography that organize circulation and connectivity between 3 distinct pavilions
• Quiet, grounded architecture, ensuring that the building fits into and enhances its surroundings
• Butterfly roofs open spaces up to high view angles and enhance passive solar capabilities
• Cantilevered volumes project off of a heavy base, contrasting the predominantly quiet forms of the residence.
The resulting design articulates three similar pods along the topography and creates opportunities for spatial interplay between them. At each pavilion, heavy stone walls anchor the northern edge facing the avalanche while glass walls and soaring ceilings visually extend the space from the interior to the exterior. The butterfly roof balances atop columns between the planes of stone and glass thus allowing an open plan below it.
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