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Breckenridge, Colo.
Faleide Architects PC
Sometimes the meeting of an architect and their client is fated—as is the case between architect, Ronald Faleide and his clients, the Crowders. As owners of a wood cabin in the mountains adjacent to Breckenridge, Colo. the couple decided they wanted to build a more modern retreat. With an Internet-based search of architects in the area, they stumbled upon Faleide Architects in Denver. “They have a passion for architecture,” says Faleide of his clients, “Their house is scattered with monographs of famous architects and they had even built a model home in Boulder, Colo. of Philip Johnson’s glass house. I knew designing this house with them would be a great challenge.”
After considering issues of privacy, the clients’ original desire for a glass house became modified to a request for a residence composed of two boxes – one, an open glass box; the other, a closed concrete box. The architect explains, “ We were more focused on the placement of the house in relation to the mountain, while remaining respectful to the natural growth and sensitive to sustainability.” Landscape architects were employed to clear out the densely forested area for just enough space for the house as well as fire mitigation. Considering the cardinal points of the compass when building in a heavily wooded area, Faleide designed the house’s major lines to run on a north-south and east-west axis. The placement of the east-west axis not only ensures optimal natural light, but the eastern end’s placement provides views of Mount Baldy.
The kitchen, the living and dining rooms, and the lofted master bedroom and bath are sited within the open box, constructed mainly of glass and steel. Faleide notes, “I designed the kitchen with no cabinet space and instead designed a nearby walk-in pantry. This keeps the kitchen minimal and reinforces the fact that this is a vacation home.” A three-story stair tower sheathed in corrugated concrete siding intersects the glass box and leads from the lofted area to the basement level. The concrete-enclosed basement, which acts as a plinth, contains a home theater.
From the lofted area of the glass box a concrete bridge spans to the second more private box. The closed, concrete box is mainly used as a guest area. This space contains the garage and a stairwell that leads to two guest rooms, a lounge, and a bath. The bridge that leads from the public realm to the guest wing doubles as a large recreation room including a bar, billiards, and other games. Below the bridge is what Faleide refers to as the “outdoor room.” The architect knew that his clients’ main reason for the house was to be a part of the outdoors as much as possible. “The patio is the entire excuse for the house,” says Faleide, “Everything about the house is choreographed so that you’re always close to this outdoor area.” With its southern exposure, the large patio with a fire pit, hot tub, and custom-designed grill, is open to muted daylight and views of the trees.
There are numerous details within the house that are unique to the teaming up of the architect and the client. Faleide brings iconic imagery to his designs, while Bart Crowder, a machinist by trade, crafts hands-on detailing. For instance, the vertical stair tower originates from the architect’s belief that the house called for a grand stairway like that of the Duomo of Florence. The stainless steel treads, each with over 100-drilled holes for traction and transparency, were created in Crowder’s fabrication shop. Other areas of the house, such as the chrome-plated bar in the recreation room or the wood dining room table inspired by the obelisk from Space Odyssey, contain the team’s personal touches. The relationship between the clients and the architect has not ended with the completion of the house nor has Faleide’s whimsy towards architectural design. “The Crowders have a new space in Boulder we’re going to design,” chuckles Faleide, “I’m drawing inspiration from the holodeck on Star Trek.”
By Randi Greenberg
Gross square
footage
4,240 sq. ft.
Total construction cost
$640,000
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