Panorama House

With their three children fully launched into careers, our clients wholeheartedly embraced relocating to Denver for work, especially when they found the perfect property (with a not-so-perfect house) in Cherry Creek’s DCC neighborhood. Located on a very steep lot with huge panoramic views overlooking the Denver skyline and the mountains beyond, our challenge was to create a private sanctuary with expansive views that celebrates natural light and the outdoors while serving as a retreat from the surrounding city. The clients’ vision also included sustainable design strategies throughout every aspect of the architecture while integrating large expanses of glass. Other considerations were age-in-place options, outdoor entertaining, and comfortable accommodations for visiting adult children.

To begin, our client had a strong desire to reuse the existing foundation in order to take advantage of existing conditions and reuse the available earthwork and concrete already in place. The site is on a very steep slope, so the foundation was substantial and followed a number of geometries, none of which were a true 90 degrees. Although reusing the foundation posed some design challenges, our team introduced a large cantilevered curve on the upper two levels, creating a sculptural composition and enhancing the home’s natural light and views. From the street, a horizontal, curving zink wall with wood fins guides you to the front door. The entire home sees sculptural interior and exterior spaces, each with a distinctive relationship with the curved wall. ​​The white painted and wood-clad walls serve as a neutral backdrop for a collection of sculptures, ceramics and colorful artwork. Built-in shelving and cabinetry provide subtle storage areas for the collections without distracting from the views out to the surrounding landscape. The owner’s love for industrial materials is found in the concrete floors and metal accents throughout the house.

In addition to reusing the foundation, the Panorama House hosts a variety of sustainable strategies including: an extensive array of solar panels, a geothermal HVAC system, radiant floor heating AND radiant cooling, carefully specified glass throughout providing abundant natural day lighting and ventilation. Because there is no gas inside of the house, most fun of all was the chance to include a water vapor fireplace, introducing a cozy, yet unabashedly modern focal point!