This muscular house with a rammed earth spine turns its back from the adjacent highway which lies at the entrance to the resort town of Aspen, Colorado. Because of this proximity, the posture of the building maintains a low-profile which allows views over it from incoming visitors and the thickened wall provides a barrier from highway noise and serves as a datum from which the plan is derived. This low-rise residence embraces its immediate landscape and the courtyard plan frames neighboring views and is neatly organized between public, master and guest. The communal public rooms unite the guest and owners wings and are central to the plan diagram, views and courtyard. The interiors abound in natural light and all spaces enjoy direct access to exterior terraces, gardens and courtyards. The exterior materials palate is earthy and employs textured rammed earth, vertical rusting Corten steel, board-formed dyed concrete and zinc roofing. Soil from the site is an ingredient to the rammed earth mixture and sets the materials and color palate for the project. The interior finishes are contrasting and offer a quiet resonance between the rough exteriors and the refined and elegant interiors