Basalt House
A private residence in dark local stone, set into a mountain slope above Aspen.
Location
Aspen, CO
Completed
2025
Floor area
8,200 sq ft
Typology
Residential
(Overview)
Basalt House sits low on a steep site, built from stone quarried a few miles away.
Large openings frame the valley, while thick walls hold heat through the winter.
Challenge
A steep slope, heavy snow loads and a strict view corridor left very little buildable ground.
Approach
We cut the house into the hillside and kept the roof low, so the stone walls read as part of the mountain. Large openings face the valley and thick walls hold heat through the winter.
Outcome
The house meets Passive House standards and heats itself through most of the winter.
(Project details)
The facts.
Client
Private client
Site area
5.6 acres
Levels
2
Cladding
Local basalt and charred cedar
Certification
Passive House
Cost
Withheld at client request
Cladding
Local basalt and charred cedar
Program
Family residence, guest suite, studio, covered terrace, two-car garage
Structure
Cast-in-place concrete with a steel roof frame
Embodied carbon
420 kgCO2e/m²
Services
Architecture, interiors
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