i+D - November/December 2021 - 17

In the living room of their Mountain Retreat project
near the base of Aspen Highlands, R+B incorporates
spectacular views by creating a glass box that is
warmed up with a wood ceiling, floor, and accents.
(Image: Brent Moss Photography)
Rowland+Broughton Architecture /
Urban Design / Interior Design
" Aspen follows the concept of enriching mind,
body, and spirit that was put forth by the town's
modern-day founders, Walter and Elizabeth
Paepcke, as the 'Aspen Idea,' " says architect
Sarah Broughton, principal, Rowland+Broughton
Architecture / Urban Design / Interior Design
(R+B). " All creatives are drawn to Aspen for the
beautiful landscape. And this congregation of
creatives is what makes Aspen unique. "
Anyone who talks about the architecture and
design scene in Aspen would be sure to mention
R+B. The interdisciplinary firm-founded by
Broughton and her husband, John Rowland, in
their Aspen condo in 2003-has completed some
50 projects in downtown Aspen. Most recently,
the firm, which opened a second studio in Denver
in 2013, was invited to design the new reception
desk for the Shigeru Ban-designed Aspen Art
Museum ahead of the opening of the Andy Warhol:
Lifetimes exhibition in December.
R+B's aesthetic combines urban and mountain
sensibilities, which results in work with a decidedly
Colorado vibe. " A common thread with our
projects is my philosophy to design wood into every
room. It adds warmth and speaks to the Aspen
context, " Broughton explains. " At our Mountain
Retreat project, near the base of Aspen Highlands
ski area, my favorite room is the living room,
with rustic oak wood floors and 10-foot-high
white oak wood ceilings that flow from inside
to out. The clean lines of the 'glass box' are
softened by the warmth of the wood. There's also
a great use of color, with a custom red coffee table
we designed in the living room and highly textural
red upholstery we used for built-in banquette
seating in the kitchen. "
Anderson Ranch Arts Center offers workshops in
a variety of creative endeavors-from painting and
photography to furniture making and pottery-allowing
participants to be mentored by experts.
(Image: Courtesy of Anderson Ranch Arts Center)
Broughton says her firm sources internationally and nationally, and
purposefully takes care to work with local makers and artisans whenever
possible. " We are conscious of place and how our clients want to live in
the mountains. Our design decisions are influenced by and respond to our
environment in multiple seasons, " Broughton says. " We design with durable,
low-maintenance materials that can handle our extreme temperature swings.
We plan for resiliency against wildfires and droughts. We think about how
we can lessen the carbon footprint. We blend the sophistication of our clients
with the more rugged, casual mountain lifestyle. "
R+B continue to be inspired by their Roaring Fork Valley setting and local
community. Last summer Broughton took a workshop at Anderson Ranch led
by LA designer Simon Haas. " We had been collaborating with Simon and his
brother, Nikolai [of the Haas Brothers], on one of our Aspen projects, and it
was amazing to continue the creative dialogue, " she says, emphasizing how
these types of creative collaborations are just commonplace in Aspen and part
of what makes the city so appealing to artists, architects, and designers alike.
Anderson Ranch Arts Center
" Ultimately, what makes Anderson Ranch special is our ability to foster
connections through the arts, " notes Peter Waanders, president and CEO
at 55-year-old Anderson Ranch Arts Center. " Our entire campus is an
architecturally unique place, welcoming visitors for self-guided tours all year
long. It's specifically designed to foster cross-disciplinary experimentation
across mediums and to celebrate the exchange of dialogue with beautiful spots
to sit and engage. "
As part of its ongoing programming, the Ranch features summer workshops
with world-famous guest faculty, as well as open houses in December and
April that invite the public to tour the studios of its artists-in-residence and
explore the five-acre campus. The Ranch also showcases art outside the
studios, for example, in the expansive Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, featuring
19 large-scale works, and the Patton-Malott Gallery exhibition space that
rotates shows every six weeks.
i+D - November/December 2021
17
i+D - November/December 2021

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