Among a pool of several incredibly creative and talented architects at work in Telluride, Colorado, I recently had the privilege of shooting for a new client,
Tommy Hein Architects.
This contemporary home with mining references and great detailing, is set in the Mountain Village, just above the town of Telluride. Bold architectural design powerfully engages a challenging, steeply sloped site with views to the north. The pedestrian approach is visually strong and experientially quite memorable, beginning with a metal bridge to an open tower structure detailed in stone, metal and wood. The tower connects not only the garage and main house through an axial relationship (in plan), but also multiple levels (in section), from the street, down an impressive stone stair, to another wood and steel bridge which serves as the connection to the main home.
Opaque glazing on most of the south wall allows for plenty of natural light to get in, but prevents the strongest of southern Colorado light from glaring with too much intensity, especially given the many patterns of fenestration.
An open metal grate deck to the south places you high amongst an aspen forest. In the winter, the view opens to reveal the San Juan mountains to the south.
Overlapping public spaces give way also to quiet moments at the ends of axes... and the journey of getting there is half the fun!
