Dezeen Magazine

Studio B adds two separate volumes to Riverside House in Colorado

Colorado architects Studio B have extended a local waterfront home by adding a pair of buildings with different levels of privacy (+ slideshow).

Riverside House is located in the remote town of Woody Creek, Colorado, and takes its name from a trout-fishing river that it faces.

Riverside House by Studio B Architects

The original home is a low volume with public spaces on the ground floor.

Full-height glazing provides residents with views of the nearby river.

Riverside House by Studio B Architects

At the house's extremity, a second storey contains the master suite.

This room is glazed on three sides, offering sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.

Riverside House by Studio B Architects

In order to remain so close to the river, Studio B needed to extend the residence rather than build anew.

"The site posed unique challenges – the original house was located approximately five feet (1.5 metres) from the Roaring Fork River, and if we had demolished it, we would have needed to rebuild at least 25 feet (7.62 metres) back from the river," said principal Scott Lindenau. "So we opted to renovate and add."

Riverside House by Studio B Architects

Two distinct volumes were added to the residence.

The first is located at the western end of the house, and is connected to the main area by a short glazed walkway.

Riverside House by Studio B Architects

The 1,386-square-foot (129-square-metre) addition contains a library on the ground floor, and a guest suite above.

The bedroom includes its own bathroom and a walk-in closet.

Riverside House by Studio B Architects

Another secondary building was constructed further west. This volume measuring 1,428 square feet (133 square metres) was built upon the foundations of a pre-existing garage.

It contains a two-car port on the ground floor, and a guest apartment above.

Riverside House by Studio B Architects

The living spaces in this more secluded volume afford guests more privacy in their daily activities. In addition to the bedroom, the architects included a small kitchen, dining room and living room.

The architects sought to harmonise the three volumes by using similar exterior cladding and forms.

Riverside House by Studio B Architects
Photograph is by Andrew Pogue

"The new architecture reinterprets the existing house and marries the project as a whole through its use of materials, patterns and massing," said the firm.

Studio B sourced the weathered wood cladding from a provider in Pennsylvania, which specialises in collecting and refurbishing the material from local barns.

Riverside House by Studio B Architects
Photograph is by Andrew Pogue

Reclaimed wood is a popular exterior material in the mountainous state of Colorado. Other projects that use the versatile material include a weekend getaway in Aspen, and a home that was built on land razed by a forest fire, which uses rolling barn doors in lieu of shutters.

Photography is by Derek Skalko, unless otherwise indicated.

Riverside House by Studio B Architects
Site plan – click for larger image
Riverside House by Studio B Architects
Ground floor plan of the main house and extension – click for larger image
Riverside House by Studio B Architects
First floor plan of the house and extension – click for larger image
Riverside House by Studio B Architects
Plans of the guest house and garage – click for larger image