CHALLENGE
This residence was designed for a steep hillside site overlooking the Roaring Fork Valley, where dramatic topography and expansive views were matched by significant logistical and environmental constraints. The site’s slope limited conventional construction methods, while access, staging, and seasonal weather conditions demanded a highly controlled building process. At the same time, the client sought a refined contemporary home that could engage the landscape, maximize views, and express a strong architectural identity appropriate to Aspen’s alpine setting. The challenge was to reconcile precision off-site modular construction with a highly customized design that responded to terrain, climate, and context without appearing prefabricated.
SOLUTION
We approached the project using a modular, off-site construction strategy, allowing major building components to be fabricated in a controlled environment and assembled efficiently on site. This approach reduced disturbance to the hillside, improved quality control, and compressed the construction schedule, all critical factors given the site conditions.
Architecturally, the home is composed as a series of interlocking volumes stepping with the slope, carefully oriented to frame long views across the valley. A distinctive curved roof form anchors the composition, softening the massing and echoing the surrounding mountain contours. The material palette reinforces a contemporary alpine character. Black zinc shingles provide durability and visual depth, while Nichiha wood panels introduce warmth and texture. Heavy timber elements articulate entries, overhangs, and outdoor spaces, grounding the building in craft and structure. Black aluminum windows and metal railings create crisp edges and maximize transparency without visual clutter.
Interior spaces are organized to take full advantage of the site, with primary living areas positioned along the view edge and secondary spaces embedded into the slope. Large expanses of glazing, controlled overhangs, and terraces extend the living environment outward, creating a strong connection between interior spaces and the surrounding landscape.
RESULT The Hillside Modular Residence demonstrates how off-site construction can support high-level architectural design in demanding mountain conditions. By pairing modular efficiency with a carefully curated material palette and expressive roof form, the home achieves a balance of precision, warmth, and presence. The result is a contemporary mountain residence that sits confidently on its steep site, captures sweeping views of the Roaring Fork Valley, and delivers a refined living experience without compromising constructability or environmental sensitivity.
[*Completed in collaboration with Gravitas]