Site Specific

Architects Sarah and Rusty Brown owners of Semple Brown Design, know how to design a structure to fit its site. They orchestrated the design of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House at the Denver Performing Arts Complex; collaborated (with Anderson Mason Dale Architects) on a new office/retail/restaurant development flanking Denver’s historic Union Station; and have designed countless residential projects.

And in the case of their own mountain retreat near Silverthorne, what a site that is—35 remote, yet accessible acres of former ranchland with spectacular views in every direction. It was the first piece of land the Browns looked at after deciding to build a mountain home. “We lectured ourselves all the way down the mountain about not buying the first property we saw, but there was something special about this land, almost spiritual,” Rusty Brown says.

The two architects, along with colleague Chris Davis, designed a house that’s tucked gently into a hillside, resembling a cluster of ranch buildings with distinct, yet connected forms that relate to the land. “It was important to us to open it up and make it part of the landscape, to blend [the residence] with the site,” Sarah Brown says.

A pavilion made of glass and steel appears to float on a sea of sage. Connected to the pavilion by a low entry, a towering architectural form was inspired by an aspen-covered hillside to the west. Corrugated metal exteriors and low-pitched roofs reflect the area’s agricultural history. The weathered gray-green patina of galvanized steel and lead-clad copper blend perfectly with the landscape, providing a sharp contrast with the home’s interiors.

“As you walk into the cozy entry, you feel like you’re being enveloped by the warm, friendly space. All the warmth is focused inside,” Sarah Brown says. The main public space inside the pavilion is lined with windows that capture the 360-degree views of mountains, meadows and forests. Douglas-fir planks line the walls and high ceilings, the wood’s horizontal pattern making a subtle, modern reference to log cabins. A floating ceiling of 2-by-2-foot slats defines the living and dining areas and adds a sense of intimacy to the lofty spaces.

The pavilion is the center of family life, especially the big kitchen that offers the Browns and their three daughters plenty of space for cooking and gathering. A commanding double-sided fireplace visually divides the living and dining areas and serves as a welcoming focal point. “There is room to be together without being on top of each other,” Sarah Brown says. Clean-lined details and furnishings give a modern edge that suits the architecture and the uncluttered, comfortable lifestyle the Browns wanted for their second home.

To save on space, the bedroom wing is stacked high in a three-story tower. “We didn’t want a big footprint to obscure any of the views. And we had to keep the entire house, including basement, contained to 3,000 square feet for cost purposes, so we needed a very efficient plan. We couldn’t have a lot of halls or circulation space,” Sarah Brown says. The result is a treehouse effect in the six bedrooms, which look out into the aspen leaves. While small, the rooms have a simple, sanctuary-like feeling.

Leaving behind their hectic city life, the architects purposely designed their mountain home with low-maintenance materials—metal exterior siding, composite deck material and all natural landscaping. “Our goal was to make it easy to come up here and not have a lot of projects,” says Sarah Brown. Away from the distractions of restaurants, TV and computers, the family spends time relaxing, reading, playing games, cooking and entertaining. Adds Sarah, “We live differently here.

DESIGN DETAILS:

Architecture: Semple Brown Design, Denver, (303) 571-4137, sbdesign-pc.com