Rocky Mountain High: An Architectural Aerie in Aspen
With operable floor-to-ceiling glass revealing sweeping views of the Rockies, and a spa, alfresco dining and sunset decks grounding guests in the magnificent natural setting, this five-bedroom residence seamlessly integrates indoors and out, and was created for rejuvenating rest and wellness rituals.
Architect Joseph Spears of S2 Architects designed the property on three and half acres, creating a glass-punctuated retreat built into the mountain slopes that offers a nod to Brutalism and Modernism with its geometrical volumes and use of sleek concrete. With oversized picture windows and sliding glass doors filled with views of Aspen’s slopes, the 3,500sqft property stands as a strong, high-altitude aerie, with minimalist interiors that put the emphasis on the magnificent outdoors.
Outdoor living spaces include an open-air cantilevered upper deck, a spa terrace ideal for yoga sessions, a shaded lower deck with a swing, and a heated alfresco dining deck for 12 guests. Sunset cocktails or post-dinner s’mores can be enjoyed fireside on a deck, too, and an indoor fireplace makes apres-ski times extra cozy.
Around
A playground of outdoor recreation, Aspen is one of the Rocky Mountains' most luxurious destinations. Exceptional dining, designer shopping, music, arts and culture join the multitude of recreational offerings, creating a sophisticated mountain oasis. Silver mining put Aspen on the map, and the town has long drawn the affluent and famous to its Old-Western-styled streets. Celebrity and billionaire homes famously dot the steep slopes surrounding the town, yet the small city’s beautiful scenery and wild open spaces also draw dedicated outdoor recreation fanatics of all means who come year-round to enjoy the natural wealth, from chilly rushing rivers for fly fishing and steep slopes for skiing and hiking, to rocky outcroppings for climbing and dense, rolling forests for mountain biking.
For skiers and boarders, Aspen/Snowmass needs no introduction, and the town’s location in the White River National Forest and Elk Mountain range means that outdoor living in the area goes beyond the famed resort. One such destination is Maroon Bells, a stunning area outside of town for hiking, fishing and wildlife spotting, with crater lakes gleaming in the shadow of snow-topped peaks. For those who prefer to travel by vehicle, stunning Independence Pass crosses the Continental Divide at 12,095 feet between Aspen and the neighboring town of Twin Lakes, a stunning two-lane drive (closed in the winter months) that twists through the mountains for 30-plus miles of astounding, Rocky Mountain scenery.
Location
Aspen, Colorado, USA. Nearest airports: Aspen (5 miles, private aircraft); Montrose (75 miles) for regional flights; Denver (125 miles, international)
Best time to visit
Year-round
