The design concept of this home—Riparian Retreat—began with its site, nestled along the river. Forum Phi focused on connecting the indoors with the surrounding nature with this Aspen-based project.
Aspen’s architectural landscape has evolved dramatically over the years. For local architects, including some who have practiced here for decades, concepts like resiliency, sustainability and holistic design come into play more than ever. For an inside look, we asked principals and partners at four leading firms to share their thoughts on their work today.
Zinc cladding, aluminum windows and a concrete plinth address the dramatic weather extremes of our Rocky Mountains in this East Aspen residence.
1. SCOTT LINDENAU
PRINCIPAL, STUDIO B
studiobarchitects.com
What does contemporary architecture mean today? How has it evolved?
Contemporary architecture suggests trends like fashion, whereas modern architecture is timeless and enduring, so to me, there is a significant difference as we do not subscribe to trends. Fortunately, a heightened awareness to good design has gained solid momentum over the last several years, allowing us to fully explore our work with like-minded clients with projects rooted in innovative strategies.
What are some key features, elements and materials of Aspen architecture today, and what are clients looking for?
Clarity of the idea and efficiency of plan resulting in a solution enjoying a sophisticated level of detail throughout the project. Elements include floor-to-ceiling glazing connecting to place-capturing light, construction materials requiring little maintenance and efficient mechanical systems.
How do you establish a design concept?
Our design strategies are rooted in modern art, geologic cues from a site and address unique programmatic requirements while responding to the dramatic landscapes we work within. We stress sketching, physical models and rigorous team critiques debating the merits of the explorations in our design process distilling those to the two to three concepts we feel best address a client’s directives, budget and program.
How does sustainability play into your work?
Responsible design addresses sustainability especially in Aspen and Pitkin County with our stringent regulations, and we are finding there is a raised awareness to sustainable practices and the environment with our clients, so it’s an essential consideration with our work.
“OUR DESIGN STRATEGIES ARE ROOTED IN MODERN ART, GEOLOGIC CUES FROM A SITE AND ADDRESS UNIQUE PROGRAMMATIC REQUIREMENTS WHILE RESPONDING TO THE DRAMATIC LANDSCAPES WE WORK WITHIN.”
This legacy Aspen home and guest house effortlessly connect the landscape to the living spaces with a distinctive interpretation of contemporary mountain architecture and interiors.
“INTEGRATING ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN RESULTING IN SEAMLESS ENVIRONMENTS WITH MEANINGFUL CONNECTION TO THE LAND, PERSONALITY AND PLACE.”
2. ALEX KLUMB
PRINCIPAL, CCY ARCHITECTS
CCYARCHITECTS.COM
What does contemporary architecture mean today? How has it evolved?
Contemporary architecture has evolved to be more of a response than a style. Response to the needs and passions of the client; response to the climate including sun, wind, vegetation; response to the topography and view opportunities. The result is highly custom, specific to a place and user and is no longer identifiable as modern or contemporary, [but] rather a timeless and unique architectural response to a unique place for a unique client.
What are some key features, elements and materials of Aspen architecture today, and what are clients looking for?
Resiliency: It’s a bit of a buzzword in the industry now, but our clients have looked for high-performing, highly resilient homes for years. Legacy: Tied to resiliency, the investment in a mountain property is significant; we are focused on helping our clients be stewards of the land resulting in a project that future generations will be proud of. Holistic design: integrating architecture, interiors and landscape design resulting in seamless environments with meaningful connection to the land, personality and place.
How do you establish a design concept?
An important part of our process is listening to and brainstorming with our clients and project teams to unlock ideas, programming and design. We begin every project with a design charette, an intensive, collaborative on-site work session focusing on site, user experience, potential concepts and solutions in a lifetime format.
To prioritize our goals as a firm, we talk with clients about smart and high-performance design in our earliest conversations. During the charette, we address the overall guiding principles for the project as well as the programming and character. This process generates a shared understanding of the goals, challenges and the physical shaping of the project’s vision.
How does sustainability play into your work?
As a firm, we are passionate about exceptional design. Good design is sustainable.
Custom aperture-style windows enable mountain views in this Aspen home
3. WILL OTTE
PRINCIPAL, ROWLAND+BROUGHTON
rowlandbroughton.com
What does contemporary architecture mean today? How has it evolved?
Contemporary architecture encompasses a huge range of typologies. In Aspen, we are seeing the sense of place weaving its way back into contemporary architecture, and a desire for these buildings to have more of a connection to the site. The relationship to the surroundings is as important as the building itself.
What are some key features, elements and materials of Aspen architecture today, and what are clients looking for?
What we are seeing today, especially in mountain communities, is a desire to use simple shapes with clean lines that celebrate the underlying form of the building. Natural materials are paired with these simple forms and detailed very deliberately, allowing the building to present a unified design. The best design is holistic, integrating the interior along with the architecture and landscape, for a timeless appeal that gives a sense of place.
How do you establish a design concept?
We always start with the site. What can we learn from the context? Where are our opportunities and constraints? How can we design a building that weaves a story through the landscape and will fit with the environment? Every site is different with its own amazing traits, and we want each design to bring out the best features of that place.
How does sustainability play into your work?
We aim to incorporate sustainability into every project, and our team is constantly improving our sustainable technologies, materials and processes. By joining AIA’s 2030 Challenge, we have pledged to push our projects as far as we can from a sustainability perspective. We have a responsibility to guide our clients beyond what is required and help educate them as to the ‘why’ at the same time.
A custom stair in a Starwood home riffs off and aligns with an exterior screen element.
“WHAT WE ARE SEEING TODAY, ESPECIALLY IN MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES, IS A DESIRE TO USE SIMPLE SHAPES WITH CLEAN LINES THAT CELEBRATE THE UNDERLYING FORM OF THE BUILDING.”
The clients of this Forum Phidesigned Aspen home dreamt of a place that lived in harmony with the natural environment and centered around the views.
“EVERY PROJECT HAS SOME COMPONENT OF SUSTAINABILITY. SOLAR AND SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS ARE THE BASE LEVEL. FROM THERE IT’S ABOUT HOW MUCH FURTHER CAN WE TAKE IT, HOW MUCH FURTHER IS THE CLIENT INTERESTED IN TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL?”
4. RYAN WALTERSCHEID
PARTNER, FORUM PHI
forumphi.com
What does contemporary architecture mean today? How has it evolved?
If it’s not necessary, it’s not there in contemporary architecture. In Aspen, we really lean into the natural materials, like stone and wood, in addition to smooth surfaces, steel, glass and concrete. Contemporary architecture in Aspen is set apart because of the regional nature of this place.
What are some key features, elements and materials of Aspen architecture today, and what are clients looking for?
Every project is a little different, but the focus is really on the connection between the indoors and outdoors here. How can we minimize the separation between inside and outside? Everyone in Aspen is focused on the view or what’s surrounding the building.
How do you establish a design concept?
It starts with the site. What is special about that specific place? Whether you’re building on the river or the side of a hill, there are things that create an alignment. Are you following contours or rotating the focus to the view? This starts the design. Then, how do we take the client’s needs to blend into the arrangement?
How does sustainability play into your work?
Every project has some component of sustainability. Solar and sustainable materials are the base level. From there it’s about how much further can we take it, how much further is the client interested in taking it to the next level? Most homes in Aspen are getting a geothermal mechanical system; all are getting solar on the roof. It’s standard practice no
Photography by: FROM TOP: PHOTO BY ROBERT BENSON; PHOTO BY MICHAEL BRANDS AND ROSS KRIBS; PHOTO BY JC BUCK; PHOTO BY BRENT MOSS & JAMES FLORIO; PHOTO BY DAVID MARLOW
