Instead of building walls and disassociating from nature’s abundance, many homebuyers are now curious to have a place that merges architecture and the environment instead of one that rejects the land’s natural essence. Rodwin Architecture and Skycastle Construction are instrumental in advocating for this philosophy in the Boulder area and beyond. The sibling companies’ Animal House is yet another example of their commitment to sustainability and innovation.
“The owners love animals and have horses, dogs, and cats and wanted to fully integrate them into the design of the house and property,” says CEO Scott Rodwin. “In addition to a four-stall horse barn, there were numerous custom details such as built-in kennels in the main social space and a dog wash. Next to that we created a hard-working mudroom to help keep all their gear and the kid chaos well-organized.” Completed in 2021, Animal House is entwined with congeniality, sustainability, and functionality. Nestled in the mountains to the west of Boulder, Animal House
is a near-net zero energy home that sits at the crossroads of modern and physis. “Physis” means “nature” in ancient Greek, and Animal House represents the dual potential of old and new, sacred and contemporary.
The breathtaking views are unmatched. Whether you are doing your skincare ritual in the bathroom or sipping coffee on the porch, the benefits of having nature and home connect are incontestable. Not only are the design elements beautiful, they serve a function as well. “The steeply sloping property required a careful design. We created a bridge between the main house and the primary suite, which both helped to manage water flow around the house, and also meet the client’s desire for a private retreat for their bedroom,” states Project Manager Jocelyn Parlapiano. “The owners requested that the house maximize their connection to nature. As you cross the glass bridge, it gives them a dramatic connection to the surrounding landscape and all the abundant wildlife in the area.”
Every element maximizes the home’s level of sustainability and relationship to the outdoors. Jocelyn continues: “The kitchen, dining room, and Great Room have an open floor plan with a vaulted ceiling. This again allows light, views, and a sense of being outdoors from every room in the house.” The eco-friendly aspects of the home do not stop
there; Scott adds: “The near net zero (HERS 10) home’s green features include a ground source heat pump, 10KwH of solar photovoltaics, an energy recovery ventilator that maximizes indoor air quality, foam insulation, and Energy Star windows. The native landscaping conserves water and minimized disruption to the idyllic site.”
The masterminds’ most-loved spot of the whole house? “The primary bathroom was one of our favorite spaces,” beams Jocelyn. The process of building Animal House was just as unique as the final product. “It was especially
challenging working on a remote site during the pandemic as both material and unprecedented supply-chain breakdowns made all construction dramatically more complex,” remarks Co-owner and President of Skycastle Construction Brandon David. “Having the tight integration of the design/build process made it possible to successfully reach the finish line.”
Rodwin Architecture and Skycastle Construction are on good terms with Mother Nature. Their project, Animal House, reiterates their mission of designing and building green homes that work hand in hand with nature and that last for lifetimes.