Project: Mariposa Garden House
Architects: Renée del Gaudio Architecture Interior Design: Istoria Interior Design Builder/General Contractor: Coburn Development Structural Engineer: Anthem Structural Engineering Landscape Design: Marpa Landscape Architecture
Location: Boulder, Colorado, USA
Area: 3150 sf Year: 2019
Photo Credits: David Lauer Photography
Text by Renée del Gaudio Architecture
Awards 2020 AIA Colorado Award of Excellence 2020 AIA Colorado North Award of Distinction
2020 AIA Editor’s Choice Award
Mariposa Garden House is built on top of an existing, 1940’s concrete foundation. The reuse of this foundation was seen not as a constraint, but as an opportunity. The project succeeds in it’s restrained approach to energy, materials, and size.
The design minimizes energy use with strategic massing, orientation, and roof design. An exposed concrete floor with radiant tubing creates highly efficient heating. Window locations are carefully designed to keep the home naturally cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Clerestory windows draw in natural light and ventilation from all directions. An 8kW photo-voltaic array makes the home net-zero electric.
A two-story masonry chimney anchors the design and material palette. Exposed rafters, plank ceilings, and ebony stained cedar create an earthy vibe. Polished concrete floors reflect abundant natural light, creating a luminous interior space.
The architecture works in tandem with the landscape. Gardens connect each interior space to light, air, and sun. These thoughtful indoor-outdoor connections create interior spaces seemingly larger than they are.
