Optimizing New Home Design to the Site

Our Louisville, Colorado office is just (20) minutes away from beautiful Niwot, Colorado, which has some of the most indigenous characteristics reflecting the essence of the Colorado environment. A new prospective client researching land in this town saw this Modern Organic custom design we created, that can likely include the following considerations for their site as well.

When it comes to designing a new custom home for a site in this unincorporated town of Boulder County, additional patience in the strategic planning of integrating the home sensitively into the environment, is certainly warranted.

After a couple of site visits and photos during the morning, afternoon and evening times of the day; analysis of land survey with topographical maps; obtaining preliminary updates of zoning and building department codes; reviewing the outline scope of work program from the property owners; and initiating some overall big-picture design concept sketches regarding strategic site planning possibilities for building location and orientation; a foundation for design architectural concepts has begun.

Honoring the natural terrain is one of the considerations regarding optimizing the construction budget, right of the bat. Our (35) years tenure as Architects and Builders helps to ensure for our clients that the most cost-effective design and construction project can be achieved. For instance, this large site has mostly relatively flat as well as some sloping characteristics. So considering this aspect for the home to be located upslope of this feature, will allow for natural drainage and runoff from yearly snow/water/rain conditions to naturally flow away from the home. Additionally in terms of the building design, a split level plan can be incorporated into the structure. 

As such, the water runoff can then be captured and harvested into retention ponds. The collection of this water can then be distributed throughout the landscape design and related irrigation systems. The yearly cost savings on water bills is thus greatly reduced, especially for a large property.

As well, with a split level home design, interior spaces can be more interesting with a step-down living room for instance. This is a more formal sedate space than an active family room and typically used for after dinner adult conversations with beautiful sunset views out the West facing expansive floor to ceiling high windows. Working with the natural terrain also provides a substantial amount of construction cost benefits, because much less site excavation needs to be done along with less structural retaining walls needed.

Views of the Rocky Mountains are of course paramount consideration to the building design. Obviously optimizing this beauty, Winter snow capped peaks and vibrant multi-color sunsets, especially from the ‘public' spaces of the home is an important aspect of the architectural floor plan design. In terms of the three dimensional form of the architecture, incorporating the majority of the roof with peaks that emulate the mountain shapes, is something that we feel is important to again honor regarding natures geography. 

The fabric of this land contains large precambrian crystalline rocks of The Front Range. We propose moving these boulders around to line a winding driveway for an aesthetic and functional response to entering the property. There’s some beautiful older growth trees as well to work with, such as Quaking Aspens, in terms of views from the home and outdoor living spaces.

Additionally we utilized roof slopes and strategically face them South, to obtain maximum solar heat gain from the roof panels. Photovoltaic panels will absorb the suns energy and convert it to electricity. Hydronic panels will convert the sunlight to heat water. More recent panel design such as PVT systems, is a hybrid of above systems combined into one panel. This is another pertinent cost-savings part of the design, that provides a lifetime of efficiencies and benefits.

In terms of finish materials, sustainable products are of course incorporated into our designs. For instance, a gorgeous hickory-pecan flooring that is a wide 8" plank x 3/4” will be used in a majority of the homes first floor spaces. As well low-flow plumbing fixtures, greywater recycling systems, high-efficiency electric appliances and lighting systems and triple glazed South facing windows optimize even more the cost-effective long term benefits of the homes needed functions. Exterior siding that already comes color specified, will be fiber cement fire rated material. The roof material will be a Class A fire rated product.

Cost-free natural light into the home is something we value greatly. Not only does it naturally ‘feel good’ to be a part of, but this wonderful resource, when strategically located, is quite useful to One’s daily lifestyle. For instance, we design skylights in to just about every project. Locating dual glazed tempered glass skylights in the master bath, kitchen and in the garage provides a very pleasant and efficient interior architectural design to the space.

These are just some of the considerations we incorporate into a new luxury home design. Let us know via our website Inquiry form what upcoming new custom home project you are contemplating and we’ll get back with you soon.

Best Always!

Barry R. Shaw AIA, GC

BSA Inc. Design & Construction

www.bsadesignbuild.com