Credits
From Boutique
The 2017 Grand Overall Winner For Green Home of the Year, this cottage to rent in Colorado is masterfully adapted to its environment with a strong connection and respect for nature that insists on minimal intrusion.
Architect Andrew Michler’s driving vision is that the construction and material selection can eventually be reabsorbed by the forest and was designed with a meticulously considered sustainability that exceeds all requirements for Passive Housing certifications by 100%.
The judges agree: “This design captures sustainability and imagination, with a strong natural connection and sense of place.”
Surrounded by the epic beauty of the Rocky Mountains, this is the first internationally certified Passive House in Colorado. Entirely off-grid, the cabin immerses you in nature with minimal human intervention.
Completed in mid-2016 the cabin draws inspiration from the modest architectural designs of Japan, and has been heralded in the press as a triumph of sustainability and environmental design. Mimicking the shape of the local ‘hogback’ mountains, the structure also evokes a traditional cabin with a modernist’s sensibility.
The angular, asymmetrical silhouette faces south, with stunning, uninterrupted views of the wilderness. The two story interiors feature an open floor plan and a restrained material palette of plywood, cedar pickets, and ceramic and slate tile. The space includes a small kitchen and dining area with gorgeous views out across the valley, and a double bedroom along with a simple bathroom.
A staircase made from wooden boxes anchors the elongated living room, with a small loft that features a net bed, giving kids or adults a place to nest while providing daylight and an acoustic and visual connection with the main floor. Wide window ledges provide intimate break out spaces for taking it all in.
A showcase for stylish, low-impact living, this Rocky Mountain retreat reconnects you with nature, where less always equals more.