An Indoor-Outdoor Concept Blurs Architectural Lines in This Vail Home

Photo: Ric Stovall

In Vail, Colorado, life unfolds outdoors as naturally as it does inside—from post-ski afternoons in winter to long summer evenings along the river. Residents embrace the landscape year-round, and this creekside home, designed by Berglund Architects, responds directly to that rhythm. The architecture does more than frame the surroundings—it is thoughtfully shaped to engage the outdoors as an integral part of daily living.

Situated within walking distance of the ski slopes and directly along the creek’s edge, the home is carefully layered into its site, opening to the outdoors across multiple levels of interior and exterior living space. Rather than a single terrace or backyard, the design unfolds vertically, offering a series of elevated and sheltered environments with multiple outdoor rooms distributed across levels for every season and occasion.

Layered Architecture with Transitions From Indoor to Outdoor Living

Photo: Ric Stovall

Pocketing sliding glass doors disappear into the walls, extending the family room into a covered outdoor room on one side and a creekside patio along the creek on the other. A warm, inviting exterior fireplace enhances the experience, further blurring the line between indoors and out. Expansive decks, covered patios, and balconies project from the home’s strong horizontal lines, creating a series of living spaces that engage the landscape in different ways.

Photo: Ric Stovall

Main-level terraces offer elevated views of the creek and mountains through the trees, while lower-level outdoor spaces sit closer to the water, creating a more intimate and immersive connection to sound, light and seasonal change. An outdoor kitchen and dining room are linked directly to the interior kitchen and dining room for an effortless flow between the spaces.

Deep overhangs and cantilevered decks provide shelter from snow and sun alike, enhanced by recessed ceiling heaters and outdoor fireplaces that extend the use of these spaces throughout the year.

Photo: Ric Stovall

Glass railings and expansive sliding door openings preserve uninterrupted views, keeping the landscape visually present even when conditions call for the home to be closed up.

Interiors That Open to the Landscape

Inside, the architecture continues this conversation with the landscape. The kitchen and main living spaces are defined by expansive windows, slender structural elements and warm wood ceilings that extend seamlessly toward the exterior. Large sliding doors allow the kitchen and dining areas to open directly onto outdoor terraces, transforming everyday spaces into flexible environments for gathering and entertaining.

Photo: Ric Stovall

When closed, the same spaces remain flooded with natural light and framed views of the surrounding forest, reinforcing a constant visual connection to the outdoors. The interior palette of stone, wood, steel and glass echoes the materials used outside,further dissolving the boundary between inside and out.

Photo: Ric Stovall

The kitchen, positioned as a central hub, exemplifies this approach. Anchored by substantial stone surfaces and surrounded by glass, it functions equally as an interior workspace and as part of the larger outdoor experience, with views extending deep into the trees beyond.

Arrival as Experience

Even the act of entering the home reflects the indoor–outdoor theme. The entry sequence is carefully choreographed, moving from exterior landscape to a sheltered threshold defined by stone walls, warm wood curved soffits and a sculptural front door. Adjacent glazing reveals the stairs beyond, allowing light to filter through the home and offering glimpses of movement and activity inside.

Photo: Ric Stovall

This transparency at the point of entry sets the tone for the entire house: a place where boundaries are softened, and transitions are intentional rather than abrupt. In a town where being outside is central to daily life, this Vail home stands as a thoughtful example of architecture that doesn’t just frame the landscape, but lives within it—offering comfort, flexibility, and connection in every season.

For over 20 years, Berglund Architects of Vail, Colorado, led by Hans Berglund and Stephanie Lord-Johnson, has been known for designing the architecture and interiors of beautiful contextual modern homes of such distinction throughout Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West, as well as throughout the US and Internationally. View their profile or contact them at 970.926.4301.

Content for this article provided by Berglund Architects.