Zenith Cabins
Type: Hospitality
Status: Ongoing, Construction
Location: Salida, Colorado
Nestled in the varied terrain of the Rocky Mountain foothills of Colorado, this self-sustainable retreat is designed to seamlessly connect visitors with the site’s diverse landscape on a secluded hill that overlooks Colorado’s iconic Front Range.
The retreat features 7 structures- 6 individual guest cabins and the ‘Living Room’ which serves as the central anchor, connecting all site experiences. Accessible via walking trails, the Cabins float above the landscape and negotiate a site of rocks, ferns, conifers and deciduous trees deep inside the wooded forest. These small, private retreats are organized as a single volume with a distinctive roofline optimized for solar energy collection, that echoes the silhouette of nearby Rocky Mountains. Each cabin utilizes a single expansive sliding door, designed to present visitors with the sensory atmosphere of outdoor camping from the comfort of an indoor cabin. Inside is a compact but efficient sleeping area with en-suite bathroom, a unique loft area and a large walk-out private deck.
Sustainability and minimal environmental impact are key to the design, utilizing mass timber construction, pre-fabrication, and off-grid systems. Each structure is formally linked but takes on a different material language that responds to the unique conditions of the site.
The Living Room
The central hub of the retreat is a 1,200 square foot auxiliary building, which can be utilized as a library, dining room, and reception area, and contains a lounge, fireplace, kitchen and bar. This ‘living room’ serves as the social hub where guests can come together and form collective experiences, a contrast to the individualized cabin accommodations. The Living Room is strategically positioned at the peak of a forested hill and the transition to a rolling meadow. This structure comprises two volumes tied together under one singular roof and continuous deck that extends the length of the volumes providing views to the wetland below.
