Betasso Overlook

Boulder, Colorado

2024

3670sf

Betasso Overlook creates a strong sense of shelter on a rugged mountain site. The design challenges traditional alpine cabin norms, creating a new vernacular rooted in Rocky Mountain culture, climate, and landscape. The solid and steep roof/wall shuts down winter winds, while floor-to-ceiling glass opens up to abundant sunshine. The form is broken down into three smaller volumes and clad entirely in dark metal so as not to upstage its stunning alpine setting.

The three-cabin composition is in tune with the topography, each cabin stepping down in elevation as one moves toward the view of Betasso Nature Preserve. The cabins are distinctly programmed for working, living, and sleeping. Glass halls connect each cabin, creating a sunny “space between.”

Common materials are arranged in an innovative configuration. Double fir rafters encase steel flitch plates, allowing for long spans of open space. Hemlock ceilings layer above, bringing warmth to the inside. Rafters align with the cabinetry below, creating a sense of rhythm and calm. Concrete floors ground the house to its alpine landscape of granite rock and pine forest.

The home operates 100% gas-free, using geothermal energy and electric appliances. A ground source heat pump provides radiant floor heating. Floor-to-ceiling casement windows create an airy interior space with natural cross-ventilation. Continuous insulation around the exterior framed walls forms an airtight building envelope. A 9kW photovoltaic array makes the home operate net zero.

Construction | Coburn
Structural Engineering | Gebau
Landscape Design | Evoke
Cabinetry | Henry Built