Lodgepole Retreat

Imagine designing a remote weekend-getaway at 9000 feet above sea level with direct exposure to near-hurricane force winds coming off the surrounding 13,000 ft. peaks. Add in the homeowner’s wish for unobstructed views of the majestic Rocky Mountains surrounding the site. The exposed, yet pristine setting ―which includes a 30-acre meadow and high alpine forests―required a rugged design solution that would be equally light-on-the-land to meet the owner’s wish for net-zero energy use, low maintenance, and comfort.

What started as an intimate two bedroom, one and a half bath cabin for an outdoorsy Colorado couple and their children, grew to a 2,200 square-foot home with three bedrooms and three baths and a glass-enclosed great room when they began to consider space to host their now grown children and their families for visits.

The couple had owned the property for years—spending weekends skiing and hiking there as their two children grew from toddlers to teens. A 1960’s-era stone cabin on the site sufficed for shelter until the pair decided they wanted something more enduring. Having previously seen an Arch11-designed home, the couple decided they wanted a contemporary cabin that provided the synthesis with nature they desired.

Conceptually, the 2,200 sq. ft. cabin was thought of as a concrete plinth, a band of glass and a large roof that is designed to shade the glass. The living plane is elevated above the ground on a poured-in place concrete pedestal to heighten the experience of floating above the meadow. Floor to ceiling glass offers occupants the opportunity to bask in 180-degree meadow and mountain views and provides an almost cinematic experience of the diurnal rhythm of the earth.

The sustainable features and materials that contribute to the near net zero energy use of the home include high performance triple-paned glazing, water-efficient fixtures, a high-efficiency electric boiler, in-floor radiant heat, and LED lighting throughout the home. The rooftop, 10kw photovoltaic array serves the family’s power needs and feeds unused electricity back to the grid. For added durability, board formed-concrete and naturally weathering A606 steel (Corten) is used on the exterior