Project Notes

Located at 11,000 feet, this design build custom home is situated in a remote spot, far above Telluride, up the Alta Lakes Road. The homesite posed some special access challenges, especially in the winter when snow shoes or machines are needed to access the site. Before we could get to the building site, we needed to construct a driveway and then a bridge to span a wetland area. Organization of materials and communication with subcontractors were key to finishing this project in a timely manner. With five snowmobiles and a hearty crew we were able to work through the winter months and complete the project in 14 months.

A few years before the owner purchased the property, the county voted to put into effect the “High Country Building Standard” in order to try and limit the size and scope of development in prescribed areas above 11,000 feet. As the design build contractor, these regulations provided some unique challenges as this was one of the first properties to be developed in this newly created zone. In the preliminary meeting with the county, the project was allowed only 1,000 sq. ft. From this starting point, it was a give-and-take to be able to add square footage to the project. After many meetings, the county allowed an additional footprint of 800 sq. ft . and an overall size of 1,600 sq. ft. The design of this custom home was heavily impacted by the regulations involved, but at the same time it pushed us to utilize every inch of the space in order to fit 3 bedrooms and 2-1/2 baths, while still maintaining an open and comfortable feel. The owners love this home and use it as a retreat from the city every opportunity that they get.