Sited in a large grassy slope, this house sits at the end of the spectacular Telluride box canyon. With intimate views of Bridal Veil Falls surrounded by towering mountain peaks, the design challenge was to match the power of place.

The house is laid out much like one would walk the site, with rooms diagonally progressing up the slope from communal areas below to the home’s private zones above. These spaces are connected by a rising hallway that functions as a galleria. This corridor acts to unify the individual spaces creating a sense of the whole, as well as becoming its own place for the display of art. Its form transitions from wide to narrow creating a forced perspective. With view points and objects of interest along the way, the hallway’s convergence is also a playful use of space in and of itself.

The interior spaces are balanced between large glass walls facing the head of the valley to the south coupled with smaller walls and intimate spaces to the north. Large eave overhangs protect the view glass from overheating and provide shelter from winter’s snowfall on the outside decks. This gives the interior spaces a feeling of shelter and protection while remaining fully opened to the site’s magnificent setting.

On the banks of the American River, the house captures the sweeping views of its site. The dramatic projecting roof of the house provides a shelter for the deck and allows the rooms to fully open to the view beyond. Balancing this are entry elements consisting of a detached garage and a covered arcade that connects to a towering entry counter form. The insulated roof panels coupled with an earth sink heat pump allows the house to be very energy friendly.

A residential barn project by Designworks. Exposed beams and structure accentuate the large space within. It is both a barn and a home. The typology of the barn make for unique opportunities as a residence.

Conceived as a modern farmhouse, this structure is formed by two intersecting hip roofs of heavy timber. Its open floor plan with cathedral ceiling contains the living, dining, and kitchen areas. Finishes include concrete countertops, travertine floors and cast concrete fireplace surrounds. The major interior spaces open to the view of the valley and a gracious patio containing a lap pool, masonry pizza oven, and outdoor dining pavilion.