San Miguel County, Colorado, USA
Amplifying the beauty of the site while being tough enough to withstand the weather challenges posed by its 10,000-foot elevation, DNA Alpine by CCY Architects is a family house created to provide the ultimate mountain activities getaway experience.
DNA Alpine has recently been awarded a 2023 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
Set in a remote stretch of alpine wilderness, this residence provides a secluded retreat high in the Colorado Rockies.
Designed as a family getaway, it works as a quiet retreat for a couple, and as a place to gather family and friends.
The clients have owned the land for many years, using it as a place to go hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
They had long camped on site for overnight stays, but, over time, they wanted a more permanent dwelling, but one that conserved the landscape.
Having owned the land for over 20 years, the owners wanted a small, artful house and having intimate knowledge of the site, identifying its specific location: the north edge of a subtle bowl, backed by towering spruce trees.
Their further requirements – that all existing trees be saved, and the bowl remain in its natural state – all of which resulted in a very small footprint available for the new structure.
One of the driving goals for this home was to cultivate environmental stewardship in future generations through design.
The architects aimed to achieve this goal in three ways.
First, by deferring to the landscape.
Second, by creating ample indoor/outdoor living spaces (both for gathering and quiet reflection).
And third, by using resilient materials that will provide timeless shelter from the elements.
The design embraces smallness and deference to land.
Dividing the program into three buildings: the main house, the garage, and the sauna allowed each to adapt to the topography and fit between the trees to form a loose compound connected with walking paths.
To provide ample space for generations to gather, multi-functional spaces were designed to reduce the building footprint.
Rather than providing four designated bedrooms, a flex space functions as an office or a sleeping room with two daybeds, and a sleeping loft is tucked under the sloping roof.
The result is an artful home that fits the family and the site.
Tilting the roof form to respond to the natural grade while opening the interior spaces up to dramatic views of the San Juan Mountains and intimate views of the forest resulted in a folded plane and sinuous elevation which follows topography.
For cladding, copper sheeting was formed into four profiles that could be used in any pattern.
Inspired by the client’s interest in synthetic biology, the pattern used is the DNA sequence of the heritage spruce trees surrounding the house.
The non-repetitive sequence wraps continuously around the structure.
The siding’s shifting, slightly reflective patterns create an interactive experience on the site – a dynamic camouflage in changing daylight, which will continue to patina with each passing season.
The design is modest and subservient, allowing the site to remain a sanctuary.
The DNA sequence, ever-present and unseen, underscores the subtleties of the landscape and the beauty of deferring to it.
Project: DNA Alpine
Architects: CCY Architects
Lead Architects: Todd Kennedy and Jenny Trumble
General Contractor: Dave Gerber Construction
Consulting Principal: John Cottle
Client: Private
Photographers: Draper White Photography
