6 Award-Winning Colorado Homes

Top residential designs over $1 million

October 24, 2016

Angela M.T. Van Do,

There’s no denying that Colorado is home to some of the most stunning architecture in the country. With the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, inspiration abounds for homeowners, architects, and design professionals here in our state and beyond.

The following six Colorado homes built since 2011 were critiqued by architects from across the country and deemed to be some of the best examples of residential design over $1 million.

Private Guest Residence [Photo: Jason Dewey Photography]

1. PRIVATE GUEST RESIDENCE, Aspen
[Architect: RGS Architecture]

Cradled into a mountain slope, this spectacular 5,750-square-foot Aspen home features incredible panoramic views from Independence Pass to Mt. Sopris. The glass railings, seamlessly installed through the stone terrace paving, allow for unobstructed views from every room in the house. Even the master terrace has both top-of-the-valley views and a private fireplace shielded from the rest of the home.

Woody Creek House [Photo: Raul Garcia]

2. WOODY CREEK HOUSE, Snowmass
[Architect: CCY Architects]

Situated near a creek that flows below a steep embankment, this artful 5,708-square-foot retreat in Snowmass sits between an open pasture and a dense Cottonwood grove. The home’s roof was inspired by Origami, featuring folding planes that offer variety when viewed from different exterior angles, and providing an elegant and dramatic arrival sequence for guests. A bridge moves guests from the open field to the living room at the uppermost level. The procession flows through the house, cascading down from space to space, eventually finishing at an outdoor terrace by the creek’s edge.

Brick City House [Photo: Raul Garcia]

3. BRICK CITY HOUSE, Denver
[Architect: Studio B Architecture + Interiors]

Located in an older Denver neighborhood consisting primarily of small-scale brick homes with large entry porches, this 4,600-square-foot home was designed to stand out. Opposed to many of the new homes typically being constructed in the neighborhood, this home is a smaller and more interpretive piece of architecture. With no large dominant views to the exterior, the rectangular house turns inwards, focusing upwards on the sky, and inward towards the courtyard and pool.

Game On [Photo: Brent Moss Photography]

4. GAME ON, Aspen
[Architect: Rowland + Broughton Architecture]

Modern and efficient with no unused space, this 4,291-square-foot home in Aspen’s historic West End neighborhood not only accommodates a large number of guests for entertaining, but also provides a sense of intimacy for private relaxation. The home features a simple gable roof, patterned siding, and a traditional front porch—an ode to Aspen’s Victorian past. The open floor plan connects the indoor and outdoor spaces with seamless lift and slide pocket doors. The home’s interior features custom built-in, as well as floating furnishings and custom fixtures.

Gambel Oaks Ranch [Photo: Art Gray]

5. GAMBEL OAKS RANCH, Eagle County
[Architect: CCY Architects]

Located on broad sweeping ranchlands overlooking a lake, Gamble Oaks Ranch was designed to blend into its surroundings and is not visible from any public roadways. This one-story home’s low-profile roof follows the natural contours of the landscape and is nestled into the scrub oak canopy. Entrance to the site is choreographed to slowly reveal the residence in a series of glimpses through the trees, culminating in an arrival court that constrains panoramic views. Entering the home, the view is released by a series of layers building from interior to exterior space, pool terrace, pasture, distant lake, and mountain peaks.

Hilltop Residence [Photo: David Lauer]

6. HILLTOP RESIDENCE, Denver
[Architect: Nest Architectural Design, Inc.]

Distinctly current, modern and warm, this 6,132-square-foot home in Denver’s Hilltop neighborhood was designed to support a growing family, comfortable and casual gatherings, and free-flowing circulation between interior and exterior living spaces. The home upholds the neighborhood context but with contemporary design details, like a slate roof and large folding glass doors that blur the transition between inside and outside. The home’s natural stone and walnut paneling provide warmth, while ceiling canopies and exposed beams give scale to rooms with high sloping ceilings and clerestory windows.

Angela M.T. Van Do, AIA, LEED AP BD+C. Angela is the AIA Colorado President, and a Senior Associate at Boulder Associates Architects. Boulder Associates specializes exclusively in healthcare and senior living design, and has offices in Colorado, California and Texas. Contact Angela at atvando@boulderassociates.com.

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Categories: Interiors