FOR THIS MODERN RETREAT IN THE MOUNTAINS SURROUNDING MARBLE, LAND+SHELTER BUILT UP, NOT OUT.
Land Shelter designed Tower Cabin as a modern treehouse that plays with elevation in a compact 1,278 square feet. PHOTO BY BRENT MOSS PHOTOGRAPHY
A ceramics piece by Colorado artist Michael Wisner sits on a pedestal crafted by the homeowners using parts of a century-old antique loom. PHOTO BY BRENT MOSS PHOTOGRAPHY
ENSCONCED IN A CANOPY OF PINE TREES, Tower Cabin is a vertical design marvel from architecture firm Land+Shelter (landandshelter.com) with three symmetrically stacked, 426-square-foot stories. Don’t be fooled by its petite footprint—the home, which sits on a sloped 2.4-acre site along Marble’s Raspberry Creek, maximizes every space and breathtaking view. “Usually, cabins are one story,” says Andi Korber, Land+Shelter principal and owner. “But we designed a tall one so the owners could be up in the treetops.”
Open riser staircases with exposed oak treads connect the home’s three levels. PHOTO BY BRENT MOSS PHOTOGRAPHY
Recent empty nesters, the homeowners wanted their new permanent residence to integrate with the rugged landscape and offer a livable-modern vibe that embraces simplicity. They collaborated closely with the Land+Shelter team throughout the project to achieve their distinct vision. Expansive glass windows envelop the top-floor primary suite, which houses a soapstone slab tub and white marble countertop vanity in the bathroom. On the open-concept main floor, a compact wood stove heats the home, and an operable glass wall seamlessly links the kitchen, dining and living space to a covered patio for alfresco meals. The lower level has living space and a separate entrance to bring the outdoors in. And for those frequent cross-country ski outings, polished concrete flooring is tough enough to withstand the clatter of ski boots.
Carbondale artisans Bill and Ty Rice crafted the kitchen’s steel frame island. PHOTO BY BRENT MOSS PHOTOGRAPHY
Special interior and exterior design touches emphasize that modern projects like Tower Cabin can be handmade without being overdone—from the shou sugi ban finish on the cedar siding (which the homeowners charred themselves while living in an Airstream on-site during construction) to the inlay cherry kitchen cabinet drawers with finger-pull cutouts in place of hardware. “Being able to do that was delightful,” Korber says. “It shows that you can make things by hand but still keep it edited.”
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