This Ultra-Modern Vail Home Goes Above and Beyond

Photos by Ric Stovall

This modern 9,000-square-foot home in Vail, Colorado not only maximizes sweeping views of the Gore Range Mountains to the east and of the surrounding hillsides to the north—but it also makes a powerful statement in luxurious mountain-modern living.

Located on a steep site that drops away from the street, the site provided the design team some serious challenges—but the result, an expansive steel-and-glass retreat with incredible views, was definitely worth the effort.

The low-maintenance exterior-material palette is comprised of imported custom-cut Italian linear slate, two colors of Swiss Pearl, a European cementitious panel system with hidden concealed fasteners, and an integrated drainage system, and ultra-smooth stucco.

A dramatic large custom steel pivot entrance door sits on the third level of the house, accessed off an entry patio with a sculpture garden and terraced planting beds. Custom steel planters and terraced stone walls integrate the house into the site. The sculpture garden and entry court are built over a subterranean garage.

Mountain views are captured in the entrance space through the large sliding doors that lead to the dining room and through the great room windows. Floating in the center of the four-story open stairwell is a dramatic elevator, clad in custom detailed high-gloss panels with recessed color-changing LED lighting. The elevator is accessed via transparent stainless-steel walkways to enhance the floating feel, and penetrates a skylight above, providing light and a powerful spatial connection to all levels of the home.

The continuous wall of windows spanning between steel corner columns in the dining and living areas capture the fantastic Gore Range views. This expansiveness is contrasted by a stone fireplace with a long linear fire and cantilevered hearth, which is the focal point of the room. Natural light is balanced with high transom windows that maintain privacy and provide mountaintop views.

Luxurious Italian custom wood cabinets and exotic stone counters provides a sophisticated warmth to the kitchen. The large pivot and lift-and-slide glass doors flow out to the generous terrace with a full-length lap pool.

The master suite, which is on the same level as the entry, is accessed by a glass-enclosed steel bridge spanning over the auto court containing a sophisticated study, an Italian closet to rival a high-end boutique, and a wine cellar. The focal point of the end of the hallway to the master bedroom is a fireplace with cantilevered hearth surrounded by glass. The suite has a luxurious open spa-inspired bathroom with a sculptural freestanding tub, generous shower, his-and-her water closets, and a floating vanity in front of a wall of windows taking in the breathtaking views. High-insulating windows and doors keep the master suite, as well as the entire home, energy-efficient despite its size.

The pool and hot tub area sits on the third-level terrace. A large acrylic window at the end of the pool allows swimmers to catch views of the mountains, while another window at the bottom of the pool adds dramatic effect as well as light to the lower-level patio below. With a climbing wall at the end of the pool, a fire pit below the pool window, the cleanly detailed exposed-steel pool structure, and abundant light from the pool window, this area is truly one of the more interesting exterior spaces in the house.

Another unique feature of the home is the lower-level spa with a sauna, steam room, therapeutic multi-body spray rain head shower, and waterfall flowing into the hot tub and adjacent cold plunge.

The lower level also has a large family room with a bar and fireplace, an exercise room with another incredible bath experience, and a media room.

The second level of the house has two gracious guest rooms with luxurious bathrooms and large windows and doors that open up to a large shared deck, as well as a mudroom and four garage spaces off of the auto court covered by the bridge. The upper level has two more guest rooms with beautifully detailed bathrooms, and an enclosed bar area, which the elevator accesses to deliver food and drink to the spacious roof terrace. In fact, nearly the entire roof is a terrace surrounded by a clear glass railing on the view sides and a frosted glass railing on the non-view neighbor side—truly making this home feel like a steel-and-glass castle on a cloud.

Hans Berglund is the owner of Berglund Architects, an Edwards, Colorado-based firm that specializes in custom residential and commercial design for the mountain environment. View their profile or contact Hans at 970.926.4301.

Content for this article provided by Berglund Architects.