Crowder House
Category: Architecture
Posted by: James on 12/17/2004 9:51:00 AM | Digg | Stumble It! | del.icio.us
Modern Rocky Mountain house in two parts
Our penchant for alpine architecture continues... there is a reason after all, since I (James here) used to work for a firm in the Lake Tahoe area. And frankly, I got pretty bored with same old cabin/lodge style, so I always have an eye out for a modern approach to mountain architecture.

This house in Breckenridge, Colorado by Denver based Faleide Architects is comprised of two boxes. One is glass to open to the views and the forest and the other is more cozy, sheltered and closed. To us... this is what a mountain house should be like.

Firm: Faleide Architects - Crowder House
Link: Architectural Record - House of the Month, December 2004


Comments Add Comments

Insulation
Posted by Ben Bodien on 12/17/2004 7:27:00 PM

What kind of glass is that in the windows that isn't going to lose building heat like crazy in the winter?

You'll be pumping the cost of the house again each year into keeping the place above freezing!
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The wonders of modern technology
Posted by James on 12/18/2004 5:36:00 PM

While we are not sure of all of the specifics for this particular house, there are many measures that can be taken to make a building like this very efficient:

1. Double pane (and even triple pane) windows can provide a highly insulated window.

2. I am sure that the windows are low-e glass (or low emission glass) which uses a microscopic layer of metal oxide that lets the sun's heat and light pass trough the glass into the building while at the same time it blocking heat from leaving the room.

Here is a link for information on energy efficient windows: http://www.efficientwindows.org/lowe.cfm

3. Radiant heating, possibly used in combination with a forced air system, is most likely used in this case. In floor radiant heating is very efficient and economical to run (though on the pricey side to install), and is especially appropriate in a house such as this with large areas of glazing and concrete floors.

Not to mention the fact that any building must conform to certain energy regulations which would prohibit the construction of an energy sucking monster in the first place.
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James get a clue
Posted by Kevin on 12/28/2004 2:10:00 PM

The climate of Breckenridge ensures that this home will be chilly and costly to heat. The Semco windows called out have an R value of 2.5. A good wall in Breck has R19 or better.

Radiant heat alone doesn't perform miracles. It might save $200 on a $1000 dollar monthly bill for this house.

Brrrr!!!

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Easy there, big fella
Posted by James on 12/28/2004 4:16:00 PM

Thanks for your comments, Kevin. As I mentioned, we are not aware of the all of the specifics for this house, but anything specific you have to share is great. We simply wanted to provide some information regarding the materials and methods (no miracles implied) that are currently available. Glass with an r-value of 10 is available... not too shabby. Whatever the Crowders and their architects chose to use is up to them, at least within the State of Colorado's energy efficiency requirements.

Anyway, it is a cool house, and if you can afford a $640,000 house, you can figure out a way to make it comfortable. Who said a house needs to be balmy inside anyway... put on a sweater for all I care. ;-)
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Not so bad
Posted by Ben Bodien on 12/30/2004 12:50:00 PM

$1000 pm isn't so bad, I know of people in Oslo who pay at least triple that to keep four bedroom houses heated, and driveways clear of ice (granted they have costly underground electric heater elements under the drives and paths, but still).

I think it's be worth it for the feel of the place, it oozes class from every aspect.
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some of the facts...
Posted by Patrick Lee - Faleide Architec on 1/17/2005 4:16:00 PM

Thanks for taking an interest is our project, its great to see it getting such spicy dialog. As James surmised, the house is heated with a radiant floor system (no forced air however) and has double pane Low-E glazing. The floors themselves are 4” of concrete which also act as thermal mass for radiant heat gain. According to Bart, the owner, the highest heating bill for this house was $600 one month, and the high bills only occur in Dec, Jan or Feb when Breckenridge has most of its overcast days. Even on a day when it is 0 degrees if the sun is shining the heat does not come on. We visit Bart and Linda often and the house extremely comfortable in winter and by no means chilly. The house also lives very well in the summer and is not air conditioned. The awning windows are situated low in the large glass living room area allowing the cooler air to enter and the adjacent stair tower also acts as a solar chimney drawing the hot air up and out. It may seem surprising to some, but this house is comfortable all year round :)
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from an architecture student
Posted by Aaron on 2/11/2005 3:54:00 PM

You mean architects are not only concerned about looks? What reassurance the consideration they invested in the quality of living and then coupled it with a modern spirit.

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practical vs aesthetics
Posted by bjb on 4/4/2005 5:38:00 PM

the practical part of me always looks at glass windows in houses, concrete floors, and so on and thinks $$$ too. but the aesthetic side of me looks at drywall, pile carpet, oak front doors with brass framed glass and shivers with ickiness.

this house is inspiration. it's eye-candy. it's what those of us in the $300-400K realm (I live in an expensive area--that's cheap here) daydream about. If it weren't for these architects pushing the boundaries of what is normal building materials, we all get stuck with mcmansions, drywall, carpet, oak-turned-railings on our stairs and I can go on and on, but let's just say it looks awesome and I want it.
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Where does all the stuff go?
Posted by gresla on 1/18/2006 12:24:00 PM

We have a vacation home which always seems to have more 'stuff' than our regular home. Where are the clothes, skis, books, magazines, tools, wine, maintenance equipment, computer, toilet paper, toothpaste, cleaning supplies, etc....

The house is very cool to look at but I would find it hard to keep so minimal looking if I spent any amount of time there.
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i agree with bjb
Posted by keithan on 1/22/2006 12:48:00 PM

it's an old comment, but i'm just getting to this site recently. and i couldn't agree more with some of his comments... even the word 'mcmansion' inspires 'hivish' irritation for me -- ok, hivish is not a word but i think that you get it.

ultimately, i'm mostly trying to say that it's refreshing to continue to discover communities with modern sensibilities such as this. all of the old american, victorian, traditional sensibility is just nauseating to me.

to gresla's comments, i'd say... you just have to get organized. i agree the minimalism is beautiful, mentally liberating. i live in a small studio in NYC and have adopted a minimalist sensibility myself (almost out of neccessity). i've invested reasonably in space saving implements and have tried to get rid of things i just don't use. you kind of have to be creative. (every now and again, some problem presents itself, which gives me a new opportunity to figure how to revise somewhat to keep the space open, un-encumbered). and with a new development, there is so much opportunity to design storage/shelving that keeps things out of view and out of the way -- in an integrated sort of way.
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