Blackbird House by Will Bruder Architects

Blackbird House
Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman

The Blackbird House is located on a small cul de sac lot three blocks from the main ski lift in downtown Aspen. The site offers spectacular 360-degree views.

Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman

In a neighborhood of modest mid-century modern houses and apartments, the architecture’s floor plan and section are a creative response to the town’s urban form-based zoning codes.

Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman

While generous the project respects a building scale complimentary to the community’s historic fabric of wood-sided one bedroom miner’s cabins and delicately detailed 19th Century Victorian homes.

Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman

The plan geometry is shaped by the arch of the cul de sac’s center point and the radial north and south edges of the home’s 0.21 acre site. The height is sensitively responsive to the town of Aspen’s desire to maintain a comfortable small town human scale.

Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman

The relatively modest cul de sac facing entry is richly detailed with vertical charred (Shou-Sugi-Ban Cypress boards and custom formed standing seam anthra-zinc metal cladding).  Generous window apertures are placed to capture the surrounding views while the architecture visually recedes into the shadows of the aspen and conifer trees that surround it.

Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman

Upon entry a dramatically sky lit stair of hot-rolled oiled steel plates and perforated sheet takes the eye toward a grand window view of Aspen Mountain famed ski-lift.

Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman

Three first level bedroom suites and generously scaled day lit lower level fourth bedroom suite and a flex room for media and exercise, create a dynamic plinth for the home’s main upper level pavilion.

Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman

Energized by the ‘origami-like’ folded planes of the main floors lofty ceiling, dynamic plan shifts and vast vistas, the ‘great room’ (living, dining, and kitchen) and the main master bedroom suite are at the core of this mountain chalet.

Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman

Interior finishes include polished reflective white diamond troweled plaster walls and ceilings, doors and cabinets of white rift sawn oak, floors of engineered walnut, large format porcelain tile or carpet, and fireplaces and bathing chambers clad in thin stone.

Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman

The architecture is designed to be a ‘rustically’ refined backdrop for a sophisticated, indoor/outdoor contemporary lifestyle where all of one’s senses are engaged and enhanced throughout the seasons of Aspen. Source by Will Bruder architects.

Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman

Location: Aspen, Colorado, USA
Architects: Will Bruder architects
Design Lead: Will Bruder
Project Team: Kent McClure, Jacqueline Twardowski, Craig Chapple, Marjorie Whitton
Structural engineer: Rudow + Berry, inc
Mechanical engineer: Otterbein engineering
Interior designer: Will Bruder architects, llc
Landscape architect: Bluegreen
General contractor: Koru limited
Site area: 0.21 acres
Total floor area: 5,829 SF
Year: 2015
Photographs: Bill Timmerman, Courtesy of Will Bruder architects

Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman
Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman
Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman
Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman
Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman
Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman
Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman
Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman
Blackbird House
Photo © Bill Timmerman
Blackbird House
Basament Floor Plan
Blackbird House
Ground Flor Plan
Blackbird House
First Floor Plan
Blackbird House
Section
Blackbird House
Section

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