Designing and building a home in the Colorado mountains presents exciting opportunities as well as real challenges. There are a myriad of choices and decisions in this creative endeavor...have fun! Get in touch with the land and with your deepest aspirations; here is the opportunity to bring form to your dreams.

Nestle into the Land - Siting your home is perhaps the single most important design decision.

Especially in mountain living, with varied topography, access, sun, and winds, the manner in which a home responds to and grows out of the land is essential for comfort, energy use —use that abundant Colorado sun! —and aesthetic impact. A missed opportunity here is payed for forever; Getting it right results in a home to be enjoyed every day.

Size Really Does Matter! - Quality over quantity is the best use of resources—yours and the planet’s.

Be smart about how much space you need. There are many ways to make space feel and live big. Indoor / Outdoor flow celebrates the reason we are drawn to mountain living, while adaptable spaces could flex between spare sleeping area and yoga practice space. Good design means that small is beautiful—cozy is home.

Elegant simplicity, rich complexity - A home that lives well is a blend of order and chaos.

A sensible and visible structure with a diversity of spaces—nooks and crannies too! —and a hearth / kitchen at the heart creates a nurturing environment for families to come together around warmth. Seeing the honest bones of your home provides a sense of strength and shelter in the snow country.

Make it real - Use materials that are local, renewable, and beautiful.

Real materials have a graceful, timeless quality: rich woods, oxidized metals, adobe & straw all are at home here. An integrity of materials leads to an integrity in the spirit of the home, and practically brings benefit of minimal maintenance and climate suitability.

Listen and Love - Listen to the whispers of the land: Listen to your heart.

Nature is a jealous lover; she demands our full attention. A home is less about things than it is about the act of living. What lives at the core of your heart— what really matters to you— should set the stage for the design of your home. The creation of your place of living is a chance to dwell in something lasting and meaningfully harmonious.

David Barrett has been practicing architecture from his Boulder studio for 30 years, passionately pursuing thoughtful and heartfelt architecture that is environmentally responsive, delightful to the senses, and timelessly beautiful. His work has been widely published, and he was recently named AIA Colorado Architect of the Year. For more ideas or information on realizing your mountain retreat vision, contact David’s studio:

www.barrettstudio.com
303-449-1141