A Designer’s Perfectly Sustainable Home

Nestled in a stretch of rolling land outside Carbondale, a low-profile residence artfully blends in with its dramatic surround, appearing as though it was meant to be there. This was CCY Architects’ goal for the residence it devised for designer and environmental advocate Jill Soffer, building a structure that offers views of the entire West Elk Mountains. “Our work is about grabbing the land and becoming part of it,” says Rich Carr, a principal architect on the project and a partner in the firm. “We have a modern agenda, and sustainability is naturally woven into that.”

Soffer, who previously lived in Santa Monica, California, but has family in Colorado, had discovered the scenic property during a bicycle ride with her sister-in-law. “I stopped to admire the view and said, ‘This is spectacular,’ ” she recalls. She then noticed a nearby lot with a barn and horse arena, which was for sale. “I didn’t ride horses at the time but eventually bought the property anyway,” she says. “Now, I have five horses.”

“Jill is passionate about the environment and advocates for it on a national and local level,” fellow architect ChrisTouchette says. Carr adds: “It was important for this house to sit humbly upon the land because of that, but also because that’s what our work is about.” That connection is not lost on the homeowner or her guests. “When people come over, they don’t remark on the house right away; they say, ‘The view is beautiful,’ ” Soffer says. “And I really love that reaction, because that’s exactly how this house was built. The land is what is special here.”

–Laura Mauk