Tree canopies, panoramic views, and the possibilities for solitude inspired the design of this house, on a steep and rocky wooded site. Created for newlyweds in their early fifties, Piché Architecture partners Amanda Christianson, AIA, and Mike Piché, AIA, designed a large flat roof that offers pockets of protection from the wildly windy setting, and a concrete, granite, and metal exterior that withstands wildfires…
“The trees have broad canopies, and the house’s horizontal planes allude to the panoramic view of the Front Range,” Mike says. Fit hand-in-glove to the land, the upper level plays with opacity and transparency, using granite on the approach and opening like a glass box to the view on the downhill side. The natural stone echoes the colors of the landscape, its pulled-apart joints creating shadows and depth.
“The roof is treated as one plane with a couple of holes through it,” says Amanda. One cutaway exposes the north patio and fireplace to the elements, and an oculus over the front entry creates “a peekaboo moment. You step through the deep portal of the front porch, getting under that strong canopy.”
Indeed, a sense of seclusion is as important as views on this exposed site. A secret courtyard occupies a niche between the garage and house, screened by granite block latticework. “The owners want to add landscape amenities over time,” Amanda says. “We’re interested in seeing what kind of inspiration comes to them.”
Canopy by Piché Architecture
Boulder, Colorado
Architect: Piché Architecture, Amanda Christianson, AIA, and Mike Piché, AIA, partners, Boulder, Colorado
Builder: Buildwell
Project size: 4,600 square feet
Site size: 1.65 acres
Renderings: Piché Architecture