Thunderbowl

Over and again, a word that arises in regard to R+B’s work is sustainability, most of all in our commitment to renovating rather than demolishing buildings, one of the greenest of architectural pursuits. Thus it was that at this existing alpine mountain house – which takes its name from the Thunderbowl ski run, its next-door neighbor on Aspen Highlands mountain – we thought, not of wiping the slate clean, but rather about what was essential.

On the exterior, edits were made to unnecessary architectural details and overly prominent window mullions, and new, purposefully positioned glazing in the living and dining rooms, kitchen, and guest bedroom drew the experience of the house outward to the majesties of Aspen. Yet the primary challenge lay in the overbuilt interior, with rooms that didn’t communicate and structural elements that interfered with light, views, and flow. The residence lacked the permeability that is R+B’s specialty, and we were intrigued by the prospect of releasing its potential.

A lounge off the living room, a few steps below the kitchen, was entirely walled off; we elevated it to the kitchen level and merged the two spaces, giving the lounge better light and linking it to the house’s larger social experience. The stairway between the first and second floors had been entirely enclosed; the enclosure was replaced with steel mesh, producing a visual connection between the two stories. New interior windows on the second floor offer views from a hallway down to the dining room. A remotely located guest bedroom/sitting room suite creates privacy for elders (and an elevator connecting all three levels makes access easier for all ages). Mountainside terraces and nooks extend the living experience to the outdoors, and a ‘ski-in/ski-out’ gear room provides access to the slopes.

The knottiest challenge lay in the second-floor primary suite, an ungainly bricolage of overbuilt rooms extending the house’s full width. R+B removed the structural clutter and crafted a soaring, shaped ceiling; part of an existing bathroom closet became a small office, secreted behind a hidden door; and a new dressing area joins the bedroom to the expanded, almost entirely glazed bath. What had been fussy and confusing is now comfortable, useful, and elegant in its organic simplicity.

Throughout the home, special attention was given to existing woodwork. A lightening of the overall palette included bleaching the original floors and ceilings to enhance texture. The introduction of lighter oak in certain areas purposefully emphasized the juxtaposition of old and new.

Injecting character and vitality into an existing house without gutting it requires a restraint born of humility, a recognition that even quotidian architecture can be distinctive. R+B, with judicious interventions, bestowed light, transparency, axiality, and an unmistakable overlay of pleasure, creating for a young family of four a true, lasting home.