shadow box in modern in denver

“In Praise of Shadows” by Laurie Lauletta-Boshart; Photos by Dane Cronin & Styling by Natalie Warady // Summer 2024

After years of traveling between Denver and Japan for work, the owners of Shadow Box sought to create a serene respite on a compact urban site while also paying homage to traditional Japanese concepts and building techniques that inspired them during their time there.

The Japanese-inspired residence was painstakingly brought to life through a series of organic, handcrafted fabrication techniques, including a unique hand flamed and wire brushed wood preservation practice that reveals a subtle wood pattern in the board formed concrete.

The intentional and cognizant representation of how the front garden and foyer interface with the street is expressed through a courtyard design with reflecting pond that serves as a threshold between the busy outside world and private inside space.

Check out our portfolio page of Shadow Box here for more photos by Dane Cronin.

RABBIT EARS IN LUXE COLORADO

“View Finder” by Cheryl Meyers; Photos by Dane Cronin & Styling by Natalie Warady // Mar April 2024

Perched high on Boulder’s westernmost edge, an ultramodern new build takes advantage of the city’s best panoramas…the greatest appeal comes courtesy of its slow unveiling. Situated on a dramatically sloped lot on the western edge of town, [sic] you first approach the Japanese-inspired dwelling, it’s prairie-grass green roof offers a hint of what’s to come.

Check out our portfolio page of Rabbit Ears here for more photos by Dane Cronin.

CRYSTAL BRIDGE IN MOUNTAIN LIVING

“Breathing Room” by Tate Gunnerson & Photos by Emily Minton Redfield // July August 2023

Seeking a more adventurous way of life, Denver-based empty nesters relocate to Carbondale, Colorado, and build a home that walks the line between tradition and modernity.

After retiring from a career based in outdoor adventures, the owners settled into this active rural mountain community that supports their lifestyle. The home largely lives as a ranch and provides additional family flex space on the upper level that would allow them to age in place - an important original design component - and retire into an active community close to bike paths, local ski resorts, and mountain bike trails.

Check out our portfolio page of Crystal Bridge here for more photos by Emily Minton Redfield.

KOSELIG IN 5280 HOME

“Step Aside, Hygge: A North Boulder Home Gets a ‘Koselig’ Makeover” // April May 2023

This Newlands home had already seen a few remodels in its day. The existing rooflines made evident the stringent solar regulations that shaped the building envelope on this sloping site, the flow through the space felt choppy and inconsistent, and a series of oddly configured decks tiered down the entire east side. Working within the home’s 4,000 square foot envelope, the existing space was reconfigured more fluidly and a 400 square foot addition allows for a central gathering and cooking space.

The boxy, cantilevered form houses a main-level great room….This new hub encompasses a handsome, hardworking kitchen, ample seating for dining and hearth room. “Opening up the main living space allows the laughter, homework, cooking, and eating to happen in the same space….” This design move also invites nature inside, the homeowner adds: The large windows and patio doors allow us to watch sunrises; the whole space turns orange and pink. We watch lighting storms in the summer, and in the winter, when the snow is falling, it feels like we’re living inside the coziest snowglobe.”

Check out our portfolio page of Koselig here for more photos by Dane Cronin.

SALTBOX IN MODERN IN DENVER

“A Modern Saltbox” // Winter 2021

Six acres of uninhabited land in the Newlands sat for years as the “site of serial speculations and blight” until the Surround team garnered unanimous approval by the planning board as well as the buy-in from the community’s most mobilized citizens through a series of public outreach sessions that were much more like question and discussion dialogue than formal presentations. Required as part of the entitlement process, the new “Trailhead” design playbook sought to “transition between the architectural characteristics of Victorian-era Mapleton and postwar Newlands.” Component to that were “gable-dominant forms with prominent front porches and street-facing front rooms to activate the pedestrian experience.”

As the eighth home Surround designed for Trailhead, Saltbox was the result of the team “curious to see what experimentation within form-based code could look like. A gabled form and front porch were both a given, but with the unique siting opportunities of a corner lot with great southern exposure, the team studied how the mass and forms could simultaneously act as cover and shade for indoor/outdoor living below and above and fluidly takes you from the entry to the pool and courtyard in the rear.

Rest notes in music are very important and the same is true in architecture. By only using a few materials, we are allowed to focus on their raw beauty.

Check out our portfolio page of Saltbox here.

PERDIDA IN 5280 HOME

“Perdida Kitchen Brings Coastal Vibes to Colorado” // Oct Nov 2021

Called Perdida, the Wash Park spot opened in February and serves Baja-inspired fare (think: tempura shrimp with mango slaw or adobo-spiced sea bass) dreamed up by chef Philippe Failyau. Transporting diners to the coasts of Southern California and Mexico requires more than nailing local flavors, though. Which is why every detail of Perdida’s interior, designed by Boulder’s Surround Architecture, puts guests oceanside.

Take the turquoise-colored tiles that define the area Newlin calls the “drifter den room.” The hues call to mind undulating waves; the shapes look like fish scales. The rest of Perdida’s color palette skews coastal, too, with blush pink and cream, a nod to sandy beaches, painted on brick walls and appearing on pillows and cushions made by Denver Upholstery. Texture also plays a role, with rattan details—seen on chairs sourced from Mexico and dramatic light fixtures—mimicking summery straw hats. Upholstered cowhide barstools by local furniture-maker DoubleButter offer a touch of Western ruggedness.

Check out our portfolio page of Perdida here for more photos by Stephen Werk.

CHERRY HILLS IN 5280 HOME

“A Cherry Hills Village Home Made to Celebrate Its Natural Surroundings” // Aug Sept 2021

After carefully considering the property—abutted by peaceful horse pastures and towering old trees—and the surrounding neighborhood, which has maintained its country-living vibe even as its homes have evolved, the architects had some ideas of their own. “We wanted to protect and complement the semirural nature of the neighborhood,” Buck says, “and that started driving the new home’s aesthetic. We used a variety of building forms, but simplified their geometries, and we employed large apertures and natural materials that could be allowed to patina.”

Check out our portfolio page of Cherry Hills here.

CHERRY HILLS IN 5280 HOME

“Top Residential Design - Kitchen” // Dec Jan 2021

Along with the task of designing a new Cherry Hills Village home for a young family of five, Dale Hubbard and Dustin Buck…were given one overarching rule: “to create something timeless that is still looking toward the future”…Anchoring the kitchen under 16-foot-high ceilings is a plaster-and-blackened-steel range hood that counterbalances the soaring stone fireplace at the opposite end of the room.

Check out our portfolio page of Cherry Hills here.

marion in modern in denver

“An Urban Enclave of Earth, Sky, and Water” // Fall 2020

The gem of the remodel, a stunning glass-walled main bedroom suite, now forms the adult wing of the home, allowing privacy and separation from the children’s area with proximity to the pool and landscaped courtyard. “Our approach was to create a massing and material dialogue that made the addition feel very rooted into the rear yard”….”Intended as a sculpture within the landscape, expansive glass contrasts against masses of concrete to create a pavilion for sleeping and bathing.”

Check out our portfolio page of Marion here.

cairn in luxe colorado

“Leap of Faith” // Jan 2020

The thing about [the term modern farmhouse] is that it has been used so often, it can mean just about anything. But after talking with the clients, we realized that what they wanted was a family compound on their land - something with deconstructed massing, like a group of buildings you’ll find on a traditional farm. We also realized that they wanted ornament that was deliberate, utilitarian and almost industrial in feel.

Check out our portfolio page of Cairn here.

calcaire in 5280 home

“Step Inside the Winners of Our 2019 Top Denver Design Contest” // Jan 2020

As we laid out the home,its large anchoring fireplace was something that [became] an energy point for the entire site, not just the room.

Set upon an 11-by-8-foot limestone base, the steel fireplace is supported by an exposed cable truss system that adds a layer of depth to the space. The dramatic design draws the eye up to vaulted ceilings, where wooden beams with a wire-brushed texture contrast with softer, white oak floors. The architects created a similar variation with the room’s limestone finishes: On the hearth, the material has been honed to a smooth finish; above the chimney and on a wall behind the dining table, it was left rough.

Check out our portfolio page of Calcaire here.

TRAILHEAD IN LUXE COLORADO

“Italian Accent” by Jennifer Sergent & Photos by Peter and Kelley Gibeon // Nov 2019

calcaire in luxe colorado

“A New Generation” by Mindy Pantiel & Photos by David Patterson // Nov 2018

Drawing inspiration from the approachable aspects of the original midcentury rancher — the strong connection to the outdoors and an emphasis on casual gathering— the resulting home is grander and also more permeable as the living room (sited in the same location as the original) features a 40-foot wide sliding glass door. Plush textiles, organic forms in the furniture and hand blown glass light fixtures, and a meandering landscaped stream balance the strong steel and timber framed form of the home.

The lighting in the entry is like having stars indoors…the Hawthorne trees provide a safe haven for small birds and, come spring, the blossom from those [65] crabapple trees come right inside…

Check out our portfolio page of Calcaire here.

collegiate peaks bank rino in modern in denver

“Vested Interest” by Sean O’Keefe & Photos by James Florio // Fall 2018

The client wanted their building in the RiNo district to carry forward the neighborhood’s industrial character…Collegiate Peaks saw an opportunity to respect the visual stability and sense of permanence that are fundamental to banking while embracing the neighborhood’s dynamic optimism.

Embracing place and purpose, the bank design blends “refined natural materials and an angular industrial attitude” as the bank’s north wall and demi-arch roof line incorporate CLTs (cross laminated timber) and structural steel in search of an iconic presence. Taking inspiration from the neighborhood’s bow-truss warehouse building of years gone by, the white painted steel wall and roof line arcs over a glass box with materials flowing from exterior to interior.

Check out the full article within the Fall 2018 issue here and our portfolio page of CPB RiNo here.

geneva park in colorado homes & lifestyles

"Right in Town Deep In the Country" by Elizabeth Garnsey // May 2018

Hubbard's previous work on 19th-century farm structures that once abounded north and east of Boulder inspired his modern-farmhouse vision. "I wanted to bring forward some of those details and capitalize on the idea of 'stumbling upon a country farmhouse,' right here in the middle of Boulder," he says. The lot was conducive to this stumbling, with its long driveway off the street and around a bend, leading to a house hidden among the trees.

A marriage of the couple's two styles, contemporary oversized glazing and huge operable glass walls bring the light, air, and views into the home, while more traditional forms and detailing can be found in the high pitched gable roofs and crisp white siding. Protecting the large exterior trees and forming a "magical landscape" that shelters the home as the topography and giant boulder climb toward the rear became a pivotal feature in both the design and in capitalizing in treehouse views out towards the surrounding wooded lot.

Check out the full article within the May 2018 issue here and our portfolio page of Geneva park here.

LARKSPUR IN 5280 HOME

"Open House" by Caroline Eberly Long & Photos by David Lauer (with styling by Kerri Cole) // Spring 2018

[Principal Architect Dale Hubbard and Project Architect Kim Cattau] worked with the high-energy family of five who lives here to create a foolproof floor plan that accommodates modern family life in it's many forms... Though the layout is designed to multitask, the home's interior finishes are beautifully focused. "The couple used a great word that we love to hear as architects and designers, and that's contrast," Hubbard says. "This theme brings a devout simplicity to the home." Dark doors, windows, and floors pop against crisp white walls. Black steel tension rods help define airy vaulted ceilings. These finishes, neither too traditional nor too stark, set the stage for the homeowners' collection of neutral casual furnishings chosen for their ability to stand up to everyday life.

Check out the full article here and our portfolio page of Larkspur here.

walnut renovation in 5280 home

"The 5280 Home Guide to Kitchen Remodels" by Amanda Faison & Photos by Emily M Redfield // Summer 2017

This 1920s home near Boulder’s Pearl Street has been given new life. A gut and remodel turned a honeycomb of rooms into a wide-open living area suited to a young family. At the center of this space is the kitchen, which champions the home’s century-old craftsmanship (exposed brick, graceful molding above the windows and doors, and original hardwood floors) while embracing the new (minimalist cabinets, open shelving, and new fixtures and appliances). “Old structures take modern touches in stride,” Hubbard says.

ivy league in colorado homes & lifestyles

"Present + Future Perfect" by Rebecca Gart & Photos by Kimberly Gavin // Spring 2017

The design is reminiscent of farm structures around the country that were often built piecemeal, starting with an original stone farmhouse, and as children came along, they would expand and build out with wood siding instead of stone.

The homeowners and architectural team worked in sync on interior details, moving through the architecture and interior design simultaneously. Hubbard says, "We think not only about design programming details early on but what the interior is going to look like as well.

Check out our portfolio page of Ivy League here. 

folly farm in luxe COLORADO

"Barn Raising" by Mindy Pantiel & Photos by Emily Minton Redfield // Spring 2012

Drawing on the additive nature of agricultural architecture, this Boulder residence was conceived as a series of buildings that grew together over time, blending comtemporary, rustic, and industrial elements for this "modern barn." Responding to the owner's declared love of "single-story houses that ramble and keep you guessing about what's around the corner," this meandering ranch home features a sunken living room at its core that is flanked by the kitchen and dining room with a small conversation space and fireplace on the other. 

"Instead of a large fireplace as a centerpiece, the room within a room harkens back to the intimacy of the hearth room...larger living areas are vaulted with exposed beams and rafters while sleeping quarters have lower ceilings and are smaller in space."

Check out the full Luxe article here and our portfolio page of Folly Farm here.

Moose Lodge in 5280 

"An Envy Inducing Alpine Bunk Room" by July Dugdale & Photos by Charlie Brown // Autumn 2016

Our inner 10-year-old can’t imagine a cooler place to have a sleepover than this custom, wood-slat bunk room by architect Dale Hubbard of Boulder’s Surround Architecture. He designed the ultracozy space for his client (and brother) to mimic the “dappled light of the snow gum forests” of the Victorian Alps, where the house is located. “Half of the fun of ski trips is staying up late with your mates and getting up early to hit the slopes,” Hubbard says—even if you’re still on the bunny hill.

Click into the 5280 Home article here and check out our portfolio page of Moose Lodge here.

surround architecture firm feature in modern in denver

"Balance / Detail / Feeling" by Charlie Keaton & Photos by Dale Hubbard // Spring 2016

A granular attention to detail provides beneficial for single-family housing, multi-family units, and commercial projects that take on warm, open, light filled residential sensibilities. The team collaborates daily within the bleeding edge BIM software Revit, a "decidedly new school approach"... [while] the powerful and raw process of creating, thinking, sketching, and talking one-on-one tried and true and equally present.

More than the simple interplay between residential and commercial projects, however, true balance comes from a deeper commitment to complementary ideals...His staff is a heterogeneous mix of ages, backgrounds, and expertise...But don’t mistake the casual atmosphere for a lackadaisical approach. By eschewing a more traditional pyramid-shaped hierarchy and implementing what he calls a “guerrilla warfare” structure, Hubbard sets high standards for even his greenest designers. “I’ve always felt it’s important to drive the ability to make decisions down deep into the firm, allow people to get the answers they need, and implement the things they need by themselves,” he said. “I would never hire anyone I wouldn’t feel comfortable putting in front of our most aggressive client.”

Check out the Modern in Denver firm feature of various projects here.

old north in 5280 HOME

"A Gathering Place" by Sarah Goldblatt & Photos by David Lauer // Spring 2016

Living large with less in a light-filled home in Boulder. Awash with "unfortunate shades of Pepto-Bismol pink and avocado green," this 1958 brick ranch was given an unexpectedly hip update with an efficient floor plan, updated materials, forms, and fixtures.

"My clients already had a great design sensibility...and they live a 'less is more' lifestyle, so we knew we could generate an efficient floor plan that would result in a great place for them to live and entertain...The open and layered plan minimized circulation paths. Each room naturally unfolds into the next, while varied ceiling heights help make the house feel bigger."

To remedy the existing L-shaped floor plan which entered directly upon the living room and wedged the kitchen away, the owners and Surround decided to remove the roof and all interior walls for a fresh reset. The kitchen was to become "the heart of the house, a gathering space for friends and family," while the previously low ceilings were vaulted with exposed scissor trusses, simultaneously allowing for an unexpected view of the Flatirons. Full height sliding glass doors floor the new space with light and connect the home to an intimate backyard. The update follows it's way to the exterior where the existing brick was painted with washes of white, the additions clad in Wyoming snow fence, and a new breeze steel and wood covered entry porch welcomes visitors to the home.

Click into the 5280 Home Magazine article here and check out our portfolio page of Old North here.

big alpine in luxe COLORADO

"Storybook Ending" by Laura Mauk & Photos by Emily Minton Redfield // Fall 2015

"One thing we told Dale was that we love the feel of old castles." Responding to that visual sense of permanence, Hubbard conceive a sculptural home with a modernist collection of geometric forms clad with blued-steel rainscreen, Kansas limestone and tight-knot cedar.... "The stone and metal create a boundary and defend against prevailing winds from the north [wheras] on the rear or south side of the home, the indoors and the outdoors become one. When the NanaWall is open, you don't really know whether you're inside or out. It's seamless."

Click into the Luxe article here and check out our portfolio page of Big Alpine here.

Princess Trail in Luxe COLORADO

"Balanced Living" by Mindy Pantiel & Photos by Emily Minton Redfield // Spring 2015

Considered the "jewel" in Boulder's historic crown," this new home in the Mapleton Historic District had to tread lighting and purposefully moving forward. Although the area is dominated by stately Victorians and grand brick estates, Princess Trail "wanted to pay reverence to a certain typology, but rather than a high Victorian we opted for an interpretation of the more demure mining structures that were prevalent in this area years ago." Incorporating an existing foundation and original freestanding garage, "the house almost deconstructs from front to back."

"We treat every new staircase as an exciting design element and distinct vertical space...It's not just about how you go up and down; it's what you see along the way that's important."

Click into the Luxe article here and check out our portfolio page of Princess Trail here. 

MOOSELODGE IN ALPINE STYLE 

"Colorado Connection" by Jim Darby & Photos by Matt Darby // Nov 2008

A modern mountain house in the Australian Alps explores a new vernacular and environment set within massive snow gum trees in Dinner Plain, Victoria. 

little alpine in 5280 home

"Ranch Revival" by Sarah Goldblatt // Autumn 2013

"Postwar ranches like the Radas' were built for a certain family structure and lifestyle...by design they were simply structures. All the space is there; it just needs to be reimagined and updated"

The 'Little Alpine' residential remodel is featured as a 1950s-era red brick ranch whose owners were "eager to update the house without 'squashing the mid-mod charm.'" The project features an operable glass garage door along the north wall of the kitchen that "floods the room with natural light and opens to an outdoor living room." 

Read the full article on 5280 Home here and check out our porfolio page of Little Alpine here.

TDA office IN 5280 MAGAZINE

"Office Space" by Julie Dugdale // January 2012

How do you transform a tired ’70s-vintage law office into a creative haven? TDA_Boulder advertising (the imaginative force behind ad campaigns for consumer favorites like Chipotle, FirstBank, Izze, and Celestial Seasonings) turned to Boulder-based Surround Architecture and TreeLine Homes for its innovative new office in downtown Boulder. TDA’s multilevel, open floor plan incorporates reclaimed materials—like the exquisite glass salvaged from an aging Frank Lloyd Wright synagogue in Pennsylvania (who knew?)—for a complete metamorphosis. If having the handiwork of a master around you every day isn’t enough to keep the creative karma flowing, we’re not sure what is.