This single-story home embraces the Colorado River and the surrounding Western Slope landscape. The north side buffers the home from train traffic with garage and workshop spaces, while the south hosts primary living areas, patios, and outdoor rooms that extend seamlessly to the river. Staggered facades with expansive glazing and large overhangs provide shaded outdoor spaces throughout the day and year.
Morgan Law
Maggie Wohltjen
Taylor Hawley
Willow and Wind Construction
Knott Laboratory, LLC
Sarah Vanderpool: Shape Architecture Studio
1,949 sf
Palisade, CO
Colorado Green Building Guild - 2025 Colorado Green Building of the Year
“We live in a piece of art”
Homeowner
Inside, a warm, Japandi-inspired aesthetic creates a restorative environment. Large triple-pane windows, natural daylighting, and a fully ducted ERV system ensure healthy indoor air quality, while a flexible single-level layout and high ceilings promote effortless movement. Dedicated workspaces, a river-facing art studio and outdoor-connected workshop support creativity, while acoustic buffers separate public and private areas for comfort and tranquility.
Our approach weaves together our core values, the unique context of each site, and our clients’ needs to create buildings that look and feel as good as they perform. Our deep knowledge and expertise in building science and Passive House design make it possible. Not only is the Passive House Standard the most rigorous and proven energy-efficiency standard in the world for all building types, but more importantly, it’s a framework for creating spaces that foster health, comfort, and durability, with minimal energy use.
Sustainability is central to the design. An existing, deteriorating home was removed; much of the original foundation was repurposed to reduce site disturbance and embodied carbon.Most of the existing foundation was retained and integrated, saving approximately 1,872 kg CO2e – enough for a flight from Denver to Tokyo and back. FSC-certified wood, recycled-content exterior panels, and locally sourced stone reduce embodied carbon. The super-insulated, airtight envelope (R-30 walls + R-9 continuous insulation) and high-performance windows achieve a HERS Index of 37 (projected –18 with solar), reducing heating, cooling, and hot water energy use by over 60–80%. A wood-burning stove allows passive operation during power outages, and the home is Energy Star certified.
Colorado River Retreat demonstrates how thoughtful, climate-responsive design can merge human comfort with environmental stewardship. Rooted in place, it reconnects inhabitants to nature, supports well-being, and celebrates the power of sustainable, site-specific architecture.
