home

When a couple approached Colorado-based Cottle Carr Yaw (CCY) Architects for a modern mountain retreat, they brought with them images of what would be the founding inspiration behind the new design—a simple and rugged cabin in Norway where the husband and his relatives had been gathering since the 1950s. Much like this ancestral Norwegian cabin, the new getaway is designed with the same rustic charms and deference to the landscape, as well as an inviting environment for friends and family to gather for generations to come.

A Victoria + Albert Barcelona tub overlooks stunning landscape views.

A custom candle chandelier made of steel, bearing real candles, hangs above the dining table.

The exposed concrete floors, also equipped with radiant heating, help passively cool and heat the home in summer and winter, respectively. The bridge leading to the guest wing can be seen to the right of the mudroom.

The exterior is clad in pre-finished inland cedar and shou sugi ban-charred wood.

Set on an east-west axis, the home stays cool with shading south-facing glass, minimal west-facing glass, and operable windows that allow for natural ventilation. Energy recovery ventilators also bring fresh air into the home.

Carefully nestled in the Colorado Rockies, Gammel Dam is an award-winning family hideaway whose serene, minimalist interiors recall Norwegian cabins.

The ground floor of the bedroom wing includes a sitting room and a master suite. The two kids’ bedrooms are located upstairs.

The exterior cedar screens can be closed for privacy and to protect the great room’s triple-glazed window wall from unwanted solar gain.

“The house was designed for a family with young kids—it’s a place to get outside, collect specimens along the shore of the lake, play in the dirt, and spend time with family and friends,” explain Taylor and Morris. A glimpse of the detached two-bedroom guesthouse can be see behind the great room building.

Drawing inspiration from the farmhouse vernacular, the Clinton Corners Residence features gabled structures clad in western red cedar and topped with standing seam metal roofing.

The adjoining garage also doubles as a recreational room, with a vintage roadster and nearby pool table lending some fun.

The 5,200-square-foot retreat is designed to look like a cluster of old barns upon first glance.

The Portola Valley Barn blends into its rustic setting.

The doorway on the left accesses an entry porch, which can be closed with the sliding door. The screened porch is the stepped-down volume on the right.

After: The barn’s original framing was kept for its agricultural character. Faulkner Architects applied an exterior envelope of salvaged redwood and added a Cor-Ten steel roof that will patina over time.

The expansive terrace creates a smooth transition to the outdoors.

Park City Design + Build created this indoor/outdoor, energy-efficient home for a Danish interior designer and her family.

The house was designed to seamlessly integrate into its surroundings. It is conceived as a "looking box" to the mountain ranges, with ample outdoor decks and patios to enjoy the views.