While much of my career was in California, I also designed and built custom homes in other states, including this one in Colorado. This project, which I call the 'Rocky Mountain Villa,' was completed in 2000.
My client wanted to bring the warmth of a Mediterranean estate to the ruggedness of the Rockies. This home is a Tuscan-inspired Mountain Villa, designed for the ultra-luxury market near a community like Boulder or Telluride.
As the design-build architect, I was responsible for the entire project. This was a unique challenge, as the 'Form' had to respect the Colorado environment. We used heavy, natural, earth-toned stone for the turret and facade, which grounds the home in the landscape. The warm stucco and terracotta tile roof provide that classic Tuscan feel, which stands out beautifully against the mountain backdrop.
The 'Function' was paramount. This 9,500-square-foot home was engineered for four-season Colorado weather. The durable materials, thick walls, and high-performance windows are designed to handle everything from intense sun to heavy snow.
The entire layout is oriented to capture panoramic mountain views, and the interior is centered around large stone fireplaces, creating warm, cozy retreats. This home is a perfect example of how my 'Form and Function' philosophy adapts to create a home that is both unique to my client and in perfect harmony with its environment."
For the 'Rocky Mountain Villa,' the interior design was a careful balance between Tuscan elegance and the rustic 'Form' of Colorado. My client wanted a home that felt grand, yet was a warm, functional sanctuary from the cold winters.
The heart of this 9,500-square-foot home is the great room. I used the same heavy, natural stone from the exterior to build a massive, floor-to-ceiling fireplace, which serves as the home's anchor. To balance the weight of the stone, I designed the ceilings with exposed heavy timber trusses and finished the walls with a soft, hand-troweled plaster. This combination feels grounded, warm, and timeless.
The 'Function' was critical. Every major room was oriented to capture those spectacular mountain views through large, high-performance windows. To create that cozy, 'Old World' feel, I used custom wrought-iron chandeliers and sconces, and designed wide, arched passages between the living spaces. This maintained an open, flowing feel while still giving each room a sense of intimacy and purpose. My goal, which I achieved, was for the client to feel 'at home' and protected, whether it was a beautiful summer day or the middle of a blizzard.
Project management for this 'Rocky Mountain Villa' was a unique and complex undertaking. As the design-build architect, I was the central command for a project built over a thousand miles from my home base in California. This required a level of meticulous, hands-on management that is central to my 'Form and Function' philosophy.
My first and most critical management priority was adapting the 'Form' to the extreme Colorado 'Function.' This wasn't just a build; it was an engineering challenge. I personally managed the collaboration between my architectural vision and the local structural engineers. This involved overseeing the plans for a foundation built for mountain soil and engineering a roof structure that could handle heavy snow loads—a requirement my California projects never had.
Sourcing and logistics were a major part of my management role. I had to coordinate two very different supply chains:
Because I couldn't use my usual California crews, a huge part of my job was vetting and hiring the best local Colorado subcontractors. I was on-site constantly to ensure their work met my exacting standards. For this 9,500-square-foot home, there was zero room for error in the building envelope. I personally supervised the installation of the high-performance windows, making sure they were perfectly sealed for the four-season climate.
This project is a prime example of my management philosophy: a true design-build architect is accountable for every variable—engineering, weather, artisans, and materials—to deliver a perfect home, no matter the location."
The priority was creating a home that could handle the intense, four-season Colorado climate. We didn't use the term 'green building' back then; we called it smart, passive design, and it’s at the very core of this home's 'Function.'
The heavy stone and thick stucco walls aren't just for the Tuscan 'Form'—they are the home's primary sustainability feature. They create an incredible thermal mass, which is perfect for the high-altitude climate. In the winter, the walls absorb the sun's heat during the day and slowly release it all night, keeping the home naturally warm. In the summer, that same mass keeps the interior cool and comfortable, even on the hottest days.
I also oriented the home for passive solar gain, with the main living areas and large windows facing south to capture that low-angle winter sun. The terracotta tile roof is not only authentic to the style but is an extremely durable, long-life material. Finally, I specified high-performance, triple-pane windows throughout. This created a tight thermal envelope that prevents energy loss, reduces heating bills, and keeps the home quiet and comfortable year-round. This is a home built to be efficient, durable, and in harmony with its environment for a lifetime."
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