- Project: Aspen Residence
- Architect: KAA Design
- Location: United States, Aspen, Colorado
- Year: 2020
- Photography: Manolo Langis
Set in its snowy valley context, the Aspen Residence stands out as a refined reinterpretation of alpine living. KAA Design Group took a structure originally conceived as an 1980s duplex and transformed it into a cohesive, contemporary home tuned to its mountain-site, views and daylight. What emerges is a residence that bridges regional identity with cutting-edge design — where board-formed concrete meets cedar cladding, expansive glazing meets deep winter landscape, and structural honesty meets refined luxury.
Concept: From Duplex to Unified Volume
The starting point was pragmatic: retain the existing twin gable roof forms to honour zoning constraints and the regional architectural tone. From that shell, KAA removed internal dividing walls and unified the upper level into one expansive living space with a soaring mountain-inspired ceiling. Key strategic moves included wall-to-wall glazing at the gable ends connecting directly to the ski slopes and forests beyond, and a re-imagined circulation core comprising a dramatic steel ribbon staircase and glass elevator linking all three levels.
The design pivots on three ambitions: capture views, blur indoor-outdoor boundaries, and elevate the everyday into the extraordinary. The result: a home that doesn’t simply sit in the mountains, it stage-manages them.
Materials & Atmosphere: Regional Warmth, Modern Precision
The material palette is a masterclass in layering warmth and robustness. Board-formed concrete creates a grounded, sculptural presence; cedar siding nods to regional traditions and introduces timber warmth; standing-seam metal roofing gives modern durability and crispness; inside, reclaimed French oak in herringbone pattern and travertine-clad baths elevate the finish quality.
Every material is chosen for longevity, tactility, and visual calm. In winter, the snow-draped exterior frames feel like the architecture shelters the landscape; in summer the glass opens wide to light and air. The ambiance is both inviting and expansive—a rare combination in mountain residences.
Spatial Experience: Light, View & Flow
Ascending through the home, one experiences a choreography of movement, light and view. The main level—the heart of social life—opens out via sliding glass walls to a terrace with fireplace and barbecue, fusing interior with exterior in a season-transcending gesture. Up a floor, the bedroom level hovers above the terrain, encapsulated in timber louvers that filter sunlight and frame the peaks beyond. The lower level houses guest suites and service zones, tucked into the slope to create a solid base and preserve the lightness above.
Through every turn, the architecture emphasises “view as architecture” — each space is oriented, sized and finished to capture a moment: snow-laden evergreens, shifting afternoon light, glinting slopes at dawn. The home becomes a lens for the landscape.
Environmental & Contextual Intelligence
Renovated rather than rebuilt, the project demonstrates sustainable wisdom: reuse of structure, minimal disturbance of site, material durability suited for alpine climate. Deep roof overhangs, high-performance glazing, and layered insulation all contribute to year-round comfort in a demanding environment. The siding materials resist the elements; the open glazing harnesses passive light; interior circulation and glazing placement optimise air movement and daylight reach.
Beyond technical considerations, the home respects its context: rather than compete with the mountains it honours them; rather than dominate the site it inhabits it lightly, with scale and profile tuned to Aspen’s residential fabric.
Why This Project Matters
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Strategic Renovation: Demonstrates how existing forms (an 80s duplex) can be elevated into high-design residences while retaining contextual footprint.
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Mountain-Modern Identity: Integrates regional materials (cedar, metal roofing, timber) with bold contemporary gestures (board-formed concrete, full-height glazing, steel ribbon stair).
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Indoor-Outdoor Integration: Sliding glass walls and terraces connect to the alpine terrain, extending living year-round.
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High-Quality Material Layering: Every finish refined yet durable—an architecture of detail that stands up to harsh climate while remaining luxurious.
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Spatial Storytelling: From the dramatic three-story atrium to intimate guest suites, the house tells a story of connection to slope, sky and snow.
Conclusion
With the Aspen Residence, KAA Design Group has created more than a holiday home in the mountains; it has crafted a context-sensitive work of architecture that reads as refined, regionally rooted and forward-looking. In the heart of Aspen, where snow, forest and slope converge, this residence introduces a quiet clarity and strong sense of place. It confirms that truly great mountain homes do not assert themselves over the landscape—they emerge from it.
