Sugarloaf Outcrop

Located on the eastern slope of Sugarloaf Mountain outside of Boulder, Colorado, the Sugarloaf Outcrop residence was inspired by the unique climbing culture prevalent throughout Boulder’s canyons and of which our client is enthusiastically a part of. The clustered forms of the residence express the client’s young dynamic family, the desire to live simply on the land and to have little impact within the mountainous environment.

The stacked clustered volumes, reminiscent of a rock outcropping, reduce the foundations’ footprint and allow for a tucked-in insulated structure.

The orientation of the site allows for the home to be a passive solar structure with specifically sized roof over-hangs. During the warmer months, those roof over-hangs reduce the intensity of the sun keeping the interior space cooler. The sun during the colder months is able to penetrate the interior spaces and warm-up the home. The insulated exposed concrete floors act as thermal mass.

The site offers a panoramic view with the plains and Boulder Valley to the East, the Boulder’s Front Range to the South, and Sugarloaf Mountain to the West. A walkout patio to the southeast provides an easy flow from the interior to the native landscape.

With the client’s growing family, the organization of the structure was designed to allow for an upper floor and lookout roof terrace to be added in the future.

The design of the Sugarloaf Outcrop is the result of a collaborative effort between the Gettliffe Architecture team and the client’s family.

Consultants and Collaborators:

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Merrin Construction

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING: Glenn Frank Engineering

INTERIOR DESIGN: Gettliffe Architecture

LIGHTING DESIGN: Splashlight Studio

CIVIL ENGINEERING: Civil Arts

SOILS & SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN: Scott, Cox & Associates

ENERGY CONSULTANT: Sustainably Built

RADIANT FLOORING DESIGN: Automatic Solar

PHOTOGRAPHY: Iva Dostal Photography

Awards & Publications:

Colorado Green Building Guild 2019 Green Building of the Year

Other Projects

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