Walden House

A long-time client commissioned Selldorf Architects to design this residence west of Vail. Located within the White River National Forest Mountain Range at an elevation of 8,200 feet, the house is sited to face a manmade pond with spectacular views of the surrounding Gore Range and New York Mountain. As an interpretation of the prevalent mountain lodge vocabulary, the project is a modernist response to the oversized log cabins that characterize many Colorado resorts. The building is arranged around a central courtyard as a series of one-story pavilions dedicated to specific functions, punctuated by a three-story tower which houses the family bedrooms. Internal circulation is organized along the perimeter of the courtyard, the living spaces opening directly from the corridor. Interior walls are solid, while exterior walls of floor-to-ceiling glass (shaded by horizontal brises-soleils) provide ample natural light and constant views of the landscape. At 12,000 sf the house is substantial but feels more modest with the non-monolithic program distribution.