Longs Peak Retreat Fort Collins, Colorado country house design, CO real estate development, USA rural home photos
Longs Peak Retreat in Fort Collins, Colorado
April 20, 2026
Architecture: Kelly & Stone Architects Inc.
Location: Fort Collins, northern Colorado, USA
Photos by James Ray Spahn
Longs Peak Retreat, Fort Collins, USA
The Longs Peak Retreat is a net zero energy jewel box of a one bedroom retreat nestles into a ridge of Arkens Park sandstone replacing an older home that had run it’s course. With an understated entry facade, large expanses of outdoor living and view glass cover the west. A large solar array fits around skylights that bring in diffuse light during the day and afford stargazing at night.
The simple shed roof forms nod to the mid century modern vernacular and were an intuitive choice to focus the occupant to the west. A separation between the great room and master affords a warm outdoor space with overhead heaters and wood burning fireplace completely protected from the Chinook winds that can batter this ridge.
An expressed structural truss, a focal point of the design acts as primary structure over the living space while other steel cantilevers significantly out over the outdoor eating area so as to not obscure the view lines with a column
A louvred cloud adds human scale to the kitchen as well as acoustic dampening to what is otherwise a fairly reverberant room
Interior materials include locally sourced Arkens Park stone, hemlock structural decking, exposed structural steel, heavy timber, back lit plywood wall panels of various species, and hot rolled waxed steel panel.
Mechanical systems include two air source heat pumps that heat both the 10×10 stainless steel spa that perches on the south end of the master but also heat and cool the whole residence. An induction range makes the great room fireplace the only use for propane in the project.
How was the net zero energy goal achieved in a practical sense, and what specific technologies or design strategies were implemented to reach this ambitious target?
Net zero energy was achieved through a combination of right-sizing, electrification, high-performance systems, and a highly efficient building envelope.
The home’s relatively modest size—approximately 3,000 square feet—plays a foundational role by inherently limiting overall energy demand. It is designed as an all-electric residence, utilizing air-source heat pumps for both heating and cooling, which significantly improves energy efficiency compared to conventional systems.
A large rooftop solar array generates on-site renewable energy to offset the home’s annual consumption, enabling it to reach net zero performance.
Equally important is the building envelope, which is both exceptionally tight and highly insulated. This minimizes heat loss and gain, reducing the load on mechanical systems and ensuring that the energy produced can effectively meet the home’s needs.
How did the design process respond to the unique geological features of Arkens Park sandstone, and what considerations were made to ensure the retreat nestles into the ridge rather than imposing upon it?
The design process began with a critical evaluation of the existing house, which did not meaningfully respond to the site’s topography. Rather than simply adapting that structure, the approach was more surgical—we removed a portion of the ridgeline itself and replaced it with architecture that is directly informed by the landform.
This allowed the new retreat to embed into the geology of the site, particularly the Arkens Park sandstone, rather than sit on top of it. The result is a building that quite literally occupies the ridge, aligning with its contours and massing in a way that makes the architecture feel integrated rather than imposed.
In that sense, describing the project as “nestling into” the landscape is not just conceptual—it reflects a very real physical and spatial strategy.
What does jewel box signify in the context of this one-bedroom retreat, and how was the limited space optimized to create a luxurious and functional living environment?
In this context, “jewel box” refers to the opportunity to approach a small project with an exceptional level of care, precision, and material quality. With a one-bedroom retreat, the limited scale allows the design to be intensely focused, where every detail is considered and refined.
Occasionally, a project comes along where budget constraints are less restrictive, creating what might be described as an “open-checkbook” condition. In those cases, the emphasis shifts toward craftsmanship, premium materials, and meticulous execution—elevating even the smallest elements of the design.
The compact footprint becomes an advantage rather than a limitation. Space is optimized through intentional planning, efficient layouts, and multi-functional elements, ensuring that every square foot serves a purpose. The result is a living environment that feels both highly functional and distinctly luxurious, where quality and experience take precedence over quantity.
What was the vision behind replacing the older home with this new retreat, and were there any unique challenges or opportunities presented by building on a site that previously held another structure?
The vision was to take full advantage of the site’s extraordinary western exposure and elevate the experience of those views. From this location, the outlook includes Longs Peak in the distance along the Front Range, as well as sweeping views down over Horsetooth Reservoir—assets that were not fully realized in the previous structure.
The existing home also created a unique condition: its earlier excavations had already disrupted the continuity of the ridgeline. Rather than seeing this as a constraint, the design leveraged that void as an opportunity. The new retreat was strategically placed within that interruption, using it to anchor the building and better integrate it with the landform.
In this way, the project turned a prior limitation into a defining advantage—both siting the architecture more deliberately within the ridge and maximizing the site’s most compelling views.
How do clients use this retreat? What are they retreating from?
The retreat is intentionally designed as a secondary, highly focused escape from the client’s primary residence in Fort Collins. With only one bedroom, its use is deliberate—it’s a place for the client to withdraw, reset, and take in the expansive views of the Front Range and the city below.
While the space can accommodate guests, there is no provision for them to stay overnight, and that is by design. The retreat prioritizes solitude and a more personal experience of the landscape, reinforcing its role as a place to step away rather than a destination for hosting.
I can’t help to notice the dynamic stair. What brought that about, and what is its function?
The dynamic stair was inspired in part by studying the kinetic elements in Tom Kundig’s work, as well as the client’s interest in incorporating a similar feature into the project.
Beyond its sculptural and experiential qualities, the stair serves a very practical function. It operates as a security measure in response to the site’s wildlife—particularly the presence of bears. The design allows the owner to control access to the deck, providing a way to enjoy the outdoor space without concern for animals reaching that level.
In that sense, the stair is both an expressive architectural element and a functional solution driven by the realities of the environment.
Longs Peak Retreat in Colorado, USA – Property Information
Architect: Kelly & Stone Architects Inc. – https://kellyandstonearchitects.com/
Project size: 3,500 ft2
Site size: 48,000 ft2
Project budget USD 2,000,000
Completion date: 2024
Building levels: 2
Photographer: James Ray Spahn
Longs Peak Retreat, Fort Collins, Colorado images / information received 200426
Location: Longs Peak, Fort Collins, north Colorado, USA.
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