Flatirons House sits on a cherished family lot in Boulder’s Chautauqua neighborhood, where the owner grew up. Designed as a compact Passive House, it features single-floor living with a basement for visiting family. Nestled in a lush garden originally cultivated by the owner’s mother, the home is both a retreat and a quiet tribute to family legacy.
Steve Scribner
Erica Robinson
Bauen Build
Northeast Projects LLC
I.M. Smith Engineering
Dake Collaborative
D.Keller Electrical Design, Inc.
3,126 sf
Boulder, CO
This 3,150-square-foot single-family residence is a design certified Passive House that seamlessly blends high-performance design with a timeless mountain aesthetic. The simple shed roof echoes the angular forms of the nearby Flatirons, establishing a visual connection to the surrounding landscape while maintaining a calm, subtle presence. The home’s massing and natural materials allow it to sit comfortably within the Rocky Mountain foothills.Â
The home is located near scenic trails while remaining within walking distance of Boulder’s community, offering residents both a secluded, natural retreat and convenient urban access. The residence includes four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, arranged to balance privacy and accessibility to outdoor spaces. Warm wood cladding, natural finishes, and carefully considered sightlines reinforce the connection between the house and surrounding urban context. The landscape is planted with water-wise, low-maintenance vegetation. These choices help minimize the home’s impact on the surrounding environment.
Designed as a fully electric home, the project includes a heat pump, energy recovery ventilator, solar panels, triple-paned windows, and Passive House-grade assemblies. The home’s airtight construction and operable windows ensure healthy indoor air quality and occupant comfort year round while the site’s southern exposure maximizes passive solar heat gain in the winter.
This residence demonstrates how thoughtful architecture, high-performance systems, and a sensitive response to context can create an efficient and inviting home. Grounded in its Colorado locale, it embodies a connection to nature, community, and sustainable living that offers a model to prioritize both comfort and environmental responsibility.
