At KH Webb Architects, our approach to modern mountain home design is an innovative take on sustainable design principles, elegant surroundings, and structures that inspire. We are pleased to offer our design expertise with the following guidelines to consider when building a modern mountain home in the Vail, Aspen, or Beaver Creek areas.
Community and Location Are Key
As experts in the luxury home design space, we begin every project with the elements that cannot be changed: the natural and social environment where you wish to establish roots. Consider how near or far to a town center you would like to be.
Do you prefer to be more isolated with only a few neighbors or do you prefer to be closer to a community?
If you prefer to be closer to a community, consider how you will interact within the space and how the surrounding culture will impact you. Surrounding areas and neighborhoods may also grow and change over the years, so it is important to visualize your role and future in the location.
Have your future home site and land carefully assessed and look into the community culture and values in these surrounding areas. It may be helpful to seek out acquaintances in the region if you do not yet have a connection there. Quite simply, it is important to be sure at the beginning that you’re building where you want to be, no matter what structure you choose to build.
Value the Reputation of the Architect
The design and architecture of mountain homes require proper expertise, and your chosen team should have a portfolio and reputation that speaks to the area and your aesthetic. How long has your architect been active – and do they have experience in the specific area you wish to build?
Are they open to giving you a tour of their local, finished work? This will tell you both the quality of their work and how communicative they are in nature – not just when they are on a deadline.
Building a new home also requires careful collaboration between the architect and the homeowner. You want a team in place committed to achieving your needs and desired vision. It may be helpful to ask about client exclusivity so that the team is fully focused on your project.
Seek out verifiable reviews from people who relied on them, and look at your prospective architect’s experience and education. Consider how open they are to innovative new approaches and, most importantly, how open they are to allowing your vision to inform the process.
At KH Webb Architects, we follow these standards and uphold the client’s vision in the highest regard.
Keep Technology in Mind
As creative use of IT and networking capacities increases, many companies like KH Webb Architects incorporate this wireless and network-controlled equipment within their luxury-home designs. Especially with fully custom projects, it’s becoming essential to accommodate network expansion for new technical elements, such as:
- Modernized home theater & A/V systems
- Motorized blinds & shades
- Programmable lighting effects
- Security & surveillance equipment
- Home office & remote work networking
- Accessibility Needs and Notification Systems
- Voice-activated & phone-integrated remote control
- Climate & energy management
- Electrical system expansion (for renewable energy & off-grid innovation to come)
It is helpful to find a design and architecture firm that has a working relationship with a home automation and technology company to accommodate equipment like this.
Sustainable Building Techniques
Local materials, like local stone quarries and native-cut timber, create perfect cohesion between the structure and the environment. Utilizing natural elements and textures ingrains the wisdom of the land deeply into the structure itself. Practically speaking, it cuts down on expenses and boosts construction efficiency, saving fuel and transportation costs while empowering the local economic environment.
Additionally, locally sourced materials often act as a conversation starter. You may find that guests quite naturally notice that the material elements of your mountain property are inexplicably “right” in their context, even if they don’t specifically know why at first.
Contemporary mountain homes are also increasingly equipped with off-grid energy solutions, which necessitates thoughtful consideration from the beginning. Land planning, roof orientation, and lighting factors will be all the more critical, as solar panels and other energy efficiency factors will predetermine many design prerequisites from the beginning.
A Family Legacy for Generations to Come
Finally, it’s important to think about how your luxury property will be used and perceived by future generations and guests. Low-maintenance landscaping, easy access, and using easily-maintained equipment will help your family and future guests feel like it is a true mountain retreat, with only minimal upkeep and work.
Even for you individually, how will the same property that supported you in your more active age be of service to you in your later years? Modern mountain homes are perfect for both purposes, making these considerations a matter of comfort and convenience. Ask yourself:
- How close do you and your loved ones need to be to support resources?
- Will your home be used to entertain and host, or will it be a much more private estate?
- What is the balance between utility and luxury that you and your family seek?
These are just some of the kinds of questions we will clarify before you start down the path of making your contemporary mountain retreat a reality.
Luxury Mountain Homes in Vail, Colorado
At KH Webb Architects, our team is dedicated to excellence. With a commitment to vision and attention to detail, we aspire to create your ideal mountain modern home in Vail, Aspen, or the surrounding areas. We hope these design principles inspire you as you consider your new home investment