The Call of the Mountains
For the owners of the Sleeping Giant Mountain Retreat, the decision to build a permanent sanctuary in Steamboat Springs was the culmination of years spent visiting the Yampa Valley. Their gorgeous mountain modern home was recently profiled in Mountain Living, where they shared how they felt that, “the mountains were calling us.”
Our team’s challenge was to honor that “call” by designing a home that didn’t just sit on the land but felt like an extension of it. Situated on a historic 80-acre ranch, the project required a delicate balance between preserving the site’s agricultural heritage and providing the modern comforts of a luxury Steamboat Springs mountain retreat.
A Modern Take on the Homestead Aesthetic
The design philosophy for this project was rooted in the concept of a “modern homestead.” We wanted to evoke the spirit of the original ranch buildings while utilizing a contemporary architectural language. To achieve this, we utilized a palette of honest, enduring materials: reclaimed wood, native stone and cold-rolled steel.
The home is organized into distinct wings, a layout that mimics a cluster of historic ranch buildings. This approach allows the massive structure to feel more intimate and scaled to the landscape. The result is a home that feels both expansive and grounded, offering “a sense of place that honors the history of the Yampa Valley.”
Designing for the Sleeping Giant View
The site’s namesake, the iconic Elk Mountain, served as the primary view for the architectural orientation. Every major living space was positioned to frame this view, ensuring that the changing seasons and light patterns become a living part of the home’s interior experience.
Seemless Indoor-Outdoor Integration
A hallmark of Vertical Arts’ style is the blurring of the line between the built environment and the natural world. For this custom home, we incorporated large-scale glass systems that disappear into the walls, opening the great room directly onto the terrace. “We wanted a home where our children and grandchildren could feel the grass under their feet and the mountain air in every room,” said the homeowners.
Our team used expansive, multi-level patios with fire pits and dining areas, natural flooring transitions carried from interior spaces to exterior walkways and framed vistas in private spaces like the primary suite.
Crafting a Legacy
Building a home of this scale in Steamboat Springs is about more than just square footage; it is about creating a space for family history. By combining the ruggedness of the Old West with the clean lines of modern mountain architecture, we created a space that is as durable as it is beautiful.