Aspen, Colorado, USA
Designed by CYY Architects, the Elk Range Overlook is a family house where the design team has integrated the topography and connected indoor spaces to the outdoor landscape while preserving the site’s natural character.
The project 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.
The sloped site presented several challenges and opportunities.
Great effort was put into integrating the home into the topography and connecting interior spaces to the outdoor landscape and existing grade while preserving the site’s natural character.
Nestled in the Colorado mountains, this highly curated residence was built to engage its environment.
Strong building forms, meticulously detailed materials, and exposed structure create a rich dialogue with the natural landscape reflecting the client’s interests in a robust and distinctly crafted interpretation of modern alpine architecture.
There was an emphasis placed on preserving the site’s natural character, by working with the existing sloped topography, to encourage a connection between the outdoor landscape and interior spaces as you proceed into the site.
The arrival sequence begins from an access road above the home exposing ballasted roofs and PV panels.
The entry drive, aligned on a mountain peak, descends through layered stone and boulder retaining walls set within native landscaping.
This procession invites views over the home to the Elk Mountain Range beyond, allowing the home to quietly reveal itself within its natural setting.
Upon arrival at the auto court, strong stone elements embedded in the land rest beneath a low-slung floating pavilion roof.
These strong, quiet single-story stone masses are purposefully placed on the north side to retain the natural grade as the topography falls south towards a large open meadow.
This retaining strategy allows a dynamic approach to the south side of the residence where floating volumes and glazed walls are unified under gently sloped roofs.
Ample overhangs with exposed wood rafters and soffits provide protection from the elements while adding warmth to interior and exterior spaces.
At select locations on the site, choreographed openings in the building masses allow visual connections through the structure.
This attempts to weave together the quiet and anchored north side of the residence with the open and animated south side.
This spatially rich approach invites movement between programmatic elements and creates a powerful connection between interior spaces, the existing landscape, and distant views.
Large operable glass walls open onto outdoor gathering spaces further connecting the main spaces to the landscape.
Active energy performance strategies include a roof-mounted 29kw solar photo-voltaic and battery storage system providing efficient renewable energy.
Passive approaches include glazed walls, to provide daylight, balanced with dynamic overhangs for seasonal sun control.
Sun is blocked during summer months and utilized in colder months by heating the stone tile floors, maintaining a warmer interior temperature with less energy usage.
Materials were chosen with an eye for sustainability and wellness.
Farm-raised Port Orford Cedar was chosen for its aesthetic qualities, structural characteristics, and high durability.
These traits allowed its use in many applications, from columns to beams to rafters, creating a strong, crafted, and warm character.
The concept of wellness is strengthened by interconnected water features within the landscaping providing visible and audible tranquility to gathering spaces inside and out.
These water elements flow through the home to multiple outdoor terraces set within native aspen trees, further connecting to nature.
Project: Elk Range Overlook
Architects: CCY Architects
Lead Architect: Rich Carr
Associate Architect: Gage Reese
General Contractor: B&H General Contractor
Client: Private
Photographers: Draper White Photography
