SHM Mountain Stories

MOUNTAIN STORIES

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STORIES INSPIRE THE

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US.

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

-Walt Disney The Rocky Mountains of the United States presented SHM with its own version of an opportunity for “westward expansion.” Beyond the city streets and off the beaten path, opening an office in Crested Butte, Colorado has allowed us to better serve the Mountain West. Living in the same environment as our designs helps our team understand the nuances of the way homes are used and how they occupy the land; their “stories,” if you will.

We created this magazine to provide a glimpse into the architectural narratives shared in these new environs. We find that each project has its own story defined by the client’s desires, the place, and perhaps a particular thing that helps shape the direction from which the home may evolve.

We approach every project with the goal of enhancing what makes it unique and each design emerges from the same rigorous process, humble wisdom, and obsession with our craft. We consider ourselves ordinary people who are extraordinarily good at what we do, in part because of our commitment to always be thoughtful, considerate, honest, down-to-earth, and all-in.

Please enjoy this look into how we explore the stories of home for our clients through architecture.

Warmest regards, SHM Architects Mountain Magic Media

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CONTRIBUTORS

Design, production and printing by Crested Butte Publishing and Creative Feature story & copy editing by Beth Buehler Cover photo by Dusty Demerson

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FEATURES

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WHITEFISH, MONTANA

SHM’S MOUNTAIN WEST STORY

WHETSTONE RANCH

PASSION AND TIME

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OUR PROCESS

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SADDLE RIDGE RANCH

HOME TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

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APERTURE PAVILION

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WHERE WE’VE WORKED

Xavier Fané

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WHITEFISH MONTANA Located on a scenic hillside overlooking Whitefish Lake in Whitefish, Montana, this family vacation home provides expansive views over the lake and nearby mountainous area. The clients desired a home that reflects the beauty of being surrounded by natural light in the great outdoors. The main daily living areas capture these images and light from multiple sides. The home includes a partial indoor basketball court, golf simulator and media room to name a few, allowing the home to be epitomized in any season or weather. This courtyard, nestled away from views of the street, serves as a main “piazza” and the gateway to main rooms overlooking the scenic panorama.

The materials of the home are an industrial modern version of the Mountain West with use of hewn “trestlewood” and iron details on the inside and integration of local Montana stone, hand-hewn logs and a combination of cedar shake and standing seam copper on the outside.

ARCHITECT: SHM Architects BUILDER: Denman Construction LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: White Cloud Design INTERIOR DESIGNER: Deborah Walker & Associates LOCAL ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER: Timber Forge Design Inc. PHOTOGRAPHY: Gibeon Photography & Dan Piassick Photography

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SHM IS INVESTED IN THE PLACES WHERE WE DESIGN …

The mountain community has a different culture from the big city. An office rooted in the Mountain West is crucial to our understanding of environment, design vocabulary and overall context. — Mark Hoesterey, AIA, SHM Architects Principal Co-founder & Designer

Mountain Magic Media

INVESTED IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST

By Beth Buehler

When Dallas-based SHM Architects decided to open a studio in the Mountain West, the firm sought a location that fit its approach to architecture. In the summer of 2019, they opened an office in downtown Crested Butte, Colorado with the sounds of Coal Creek gently tumbling by.

“SHM Architects’ core values align well with the personality of Crested Butte. Years ago, we identified who we are as a firm, not who we want to be. It’s our personality throughout the organization,” says SHM Principal Co-Founder & Designer Mark Hoesterey, AIA.

Hoesterey’s connection to Crested Butte goes back to the late 1970s and early 1980s when his wife’s family owned the historic Elk Mountain Lodge for several years. “She lived in Crested Butte and it had an enormous impact on her growing up. We have visited every summer for the last 20 years,” he says. “I did a stint in Breckenridge during graduate school and have been to many other mountain towns, but Crested Butte seemed like the most logical extension of SHM’s personality.”

Jim Jose, Studio Director, AIA, LEED AP has lived in Colorado with his family for

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20 years, including time in Breckenridge and the Vail Valley. They recently returned from three years overseas when the opportunity to open SHM’s Crested Butte studio presented itself.

“The desire to work and walk alongside people who have a fresh perspective on architecture spoke to me,” he says. “There is so much alignment between SHM’s core values and the culture of the West … the attitude and adventurous nature of the people who also embrace beauty. There is nothing about building great buildings in our five core values, instead the desire is to build people first and good architecture follows.”

CREATING HOMES CONNECTED TO THE OUTDOORS Wherever the project takes place, there are different sets of clues and design solutions. “It is fun to work with different climates, clients, and sites in various places,” Hoesterey says. “I love what we get to do in the Mountain West, and the opportunity to create homes connected to nature. I enjoy the thought of a person getting off the river from fishing and coming back to their home and figuring out where all the gear goes.”

Jose adds, “Crested Butte is a cool place to build backdrops for people’s lives and the experiential parts of their homes.”

Both agree that one of the most unique aspects about mountain home design is where to store all the equipment needed for outdoor sports such as skis, bikes, fly-fishing gear, and more.

“We are also creating a respite space, where people can experience comfort and access to the outdoors”, emphasizes Hoesterey. “For projects in the mountains specifically, we look at views, breezes, and what the sun does throughout the day to optimize enjoyment of life in the elements.”

DESIGNING FOR MOUNTAIN TOWNS Mountain town real estate sales are stronger than ever, with people seeking part-time and permanent escapes from the city.

Designing homes in the mountain landscape requires the same architectural principles but different approaches due to lifestyles and Mother Nature.

“Specific to Crested Butte, the pace of life, walkability, and connection to the beautiful natural environment tends to form

design installations differently,” Hoesterey explains.

“In the city, people are action-oriented to go through the daily grind of work, school and more. Whereas mountain towns are retreats. Those who live in communities like Crested Butte certainly have a work aspect to their lives, but your pulse changes when you are here and for many it is a retreat or a getaway,” Jose says. “When coming to mountain towns, people are looking for the antithesis to the city. Our job is to cater to that more than anything. With our designs, we are inviting the outside in.”

TELLING A STORY SHM works off the philosophy that every project has an opportunity to tell a story.

The architectural team must understand the site, uniqueness of the client, and their specific wish list to pull these things together to create an architectural expression. “It’s not about how many bedrooms and bathrooms, but where someone loves to drink their morning coffee, the sunset views over Whetstone Mountain or whatever grabs their attention,” says Hoesterey. “It’s about looking past the utility of a space and seeking the narrative about how that space will be experienced. We aim to understand where people are coming from and highlight what makes the Mountain West so appealing, so

beautiful,” he explains.

SHM works on both new home design and remodels, with a recently launched renovation on a home located on Crested Butte’s Coal Creek. “Making something new of something old is a unique challenge and a lot of fun,” says Jose.

CRAFTING TIMELESS YET INNOVATIVE DESIGN SOLUTIONS For SHM, innovation is about staying true to form and design instead of just trying to be creative. “Good design strategies—things like form, scale, natural light, etc.—are patterns utilized for both contemporary and traditional homes that capture true timelessness,” Hoesterey says. “What we are trying to do is create something lovable that in 30 to 50 years transcends styles.”

SHM staff based in the Dallas office also are invited to spend time in the Crested Butte office for a week, month, or season to get a better feel for mountain living and designing. “We always keep a flexible desk open in the studio here for that reason,” Jose says. “The people we work alongside are really important; everyone has different gifts and talents, so we aim to capitalize on them.”

MAKING THE ARCHITECTURAL PROCESS EASIER FOR CLIENTS Working with a team of professionals on

something you might not know much about, like home design and building, is daunting for many clients. “The SHM team strives to drop the architectural jargon and talk in phrases and examples everyone understands.

With every project, we kick it off as a collaboration,” Hoesterey emphasizes.

Since SHM is a larger residential architecture firm than most, a few people are typically working on a project and the client is provided four or five design options. “It shows clients we are flexible, and there isn’t just one solution to a design problem,” he notes.

Through 3-D visualizations, illustrations and more, SHM shows clients what their home will feel and look like before it is built, even demonstrating the change in sunlight throughout the day. “When people see that visualization, they feel confident and ready to move to the next step,” Jose says. “They can see tangible proof they are being heard in the process.”

SHM Architects looks forward to growing its presence by keeping an office in the heart of the Mountain West. “We are fortunate enough to have a studio in a laidback mountain town like Crested Butte as it works well with SHM’s personality as a firm,” Hoesterey emphasizes. “Jim and I have been to many mountain towns, and Crested Butte has special meaning to us.”

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WHETSTONE RANCH Nestled at the base of Whetstone Mountain in Crested Butte, Colorado, this 35-acre ranch property offers an intimate homesite against a backdrop of Aspen trees and expansive views across a private pond. The homeowners’ first request was that their residence needed to reflect a “pioneering spirit” of settling the land from long ago.

Additive buildings and native materials tell the story of a growing family ranch that will blur the timeline from when the first settlers set foot on the land to the specially tailored home of the current landowners.

One of the more special features on the property is a spring-fed creek that cuts across the homesite’s southern edge. The adventurous owners asked SHM to help them incorporate this natural feature into the design of the home, and we were more than excited to take on the challenge. In thoughtful collaboration with the clients, the residence began to center around a southern courtyard that receives the spring creek as it trickles through a boulder waterfall and widens into a surrounding stone patio with outdoor fire pit and even a small sandy beach play area for their young children to enjoy. The creek then meanders under a glass-enclosed “bridge” connection in the house, before passing gently by the detached guest cabin.

ARCHITECT: SHM Architects BUILDER: Suntor & Son INTERIOR DESIGNER: SHM Architects

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PASSION TIME. AND

Inspired by these two ideals, our process results in enduring, luxurious designs that reflect your needs today and set the stage for a life enriched by beauty in the years ahead.

As passionate lifestyle curators, we firmly believe time and heartfelt principles lead to beautiful, bespoke solutions. This philosophy has led to a body of widely published and award-winning work in a diverse range of styles across North America, as well as the addition of the Crested Butte, Colorado office.

KIMBERLEY YOXALL Business Development Coordinator We are in the business of creating beautiful spaces, and we believe our environments shape our lives. That couldn’t be more clear than when spending time in Crested Butte. Its beauty makes for wonderful lives and it’s a privilege to be a part of that!

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CLODAGH RYAN Architectural Technician

KARLY MORGAN Architectural Technician

Crested Butte is an amazing place to work remotely from if you want to be both productive and inspired. Living in a place with such inspiring landscapes and vibrant culture improved my work-life balance and was a great experience overall. It is an oasis away from the hustle and bustle that is Dallas city life. I grew up in the naturally beautiful country of Ireland, and it felt so good to be surrounded by such beautiful nature again.

Growing up in the South, the opportunity to visit mountain sceneries was slim. My time in Crested Butte was something I had never experienced before, and I immediately understood the love for Colorado and the town of Crested Butte.

My-day-to-day life for the month I was there consisted of walks to work on Elk Avenue with coffee stops each day, a cozy work environment in an office that only makes sense in a mountain town, amazing meals and conversations with locals, and of course skiing on the weekends.

ERIN SHREWSBURY Jr. Interior Designer I was fortunate enough to spend a few wintery days in Crested Butte completing the furniture install for our unique, rustic office space. The character throughout the town of Crested Butte is beautiful and charming. Walking the town streets is as entertaining as skiing or hiking the surrounding runs and trails. There are countless options for local bars and restaurants, and the locals welcome you.

MELANIE HEWITT Marketing Coordinator I have been to Crested Butte twice, and both times I found the visit to be relaxing and restorative, even when I had to work!

The scenery is unbelievable and the locals were so friendly. My favorite part was asking for hiking recommendations, taking my dog and exploring the trails.

Spending time alone in the mountains is good for the soul!

ENRIQUE MONTENEGRO Principal Authentic! That’s how I would describe the town of Crested Butte. It is such a pleasure to be in a place that feels so real. The buildings feel like they’ve been informed by their environment, and the people are genuine. This combination creates the most comfortable environment and makes it easy to feel at home!

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OUR PROCESS

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PRE-DESIGN

Discover

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SCHEMATIC DESIGN

Set Course

PRE-DESIGN

You’re already well on your way through this stage. From our first meeting, we’ll get to know you, your needs, and your hopes for your project in order to design around them. What you bring to the table, we bring to life.

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

To find the solution that best suits your needs, we develop a range of options, looking at locations and project details to discover what’s right for you. When necessary, we lean on a diverse team—contractor, structural engineer, interior designer and landscape architects—as we craft your master plan.

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3 Through a series of bubble diagrams like this one, we begin to develop varied options that address your priorities.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Create Space DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Through drawings, models, documents and timelines, our design team works through the project’s technical requirements in order to ensure that every part of your project is able to continue moving forward without sacrificing any part of your vision.

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OUR PROCESS

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CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION

Give Shape CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION

Here, the details that truly define the experience of your project, down to the specific tangibles and executional nuances, come together in our thorough and precise drawing sets. Every unique piece of your soon-to-be home finds its place among the rest, setting the stage for construction that follows your vision to the letter.

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PRE-CONSTRUCTION

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CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION

Preserve Your Vision PRE-CONSTRUCTION

Your design is finalized. Building permits are applied for. Armed with your construction documents, we spend more than ample time with the contractor to communicate the overall design intent of your project.

Lead Your Team CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION

We follow through on your project to completion, ensuring that your bespoke design is spoken for at every intersection. As issues arise, we handle them, serving as advocates for your vision and keepers of the faith.

Your project is in extraordinarily safe hands.

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SADDLE RIDGE RANCH Engaging views over the town of Crested Butte and of the iconic Crested Butte Mountain itself makes Saddle Ridge Ranch a special enclave of custom homes. Our clients were looking at this home as a “base of operations’’ for their outdoor adventures.

“It needs to be able to receive large groups coming and going all day and not feel like everyone is in each other’s way with all the gear,” they indicated. With that guidance, SHM set out to design the floor plan to launch and receive people from generous spaces both inside and out.

In addition to complementing their adventures, the clients requested unobstructed views in all possible directions to pull the amazing mountain and valley landscapes into the house. The site is a 2.5-acre parcel that sits on an elevated ridge overlooking the southern valley and provides a great opportunity for natural light and integration of indoor and outdoor living.

What is most fun about this site and how the home embraces the views are the many different “performances” of nature as the day turns to dusk and the seasons change with a front row seat on Saddle Ridge.

ARCHITECT: SHM Architects BUILDER: Copper Creek Homes

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James Ray Spahn

HOME TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS: BEAUTY IN SIMPLICITY

By Adam Zatorski | King Systems, Crested Butte

The #1 request we hear during any new client meeting is always for the “very best Wi-Fi” followed closely by “and it has to be simple.”

Working as a technology specialist for almost 20 years, simplicity is our focus when we design each client system. The simplest system to operate is one that is best engineered and usually requires minimal interaction.

MORE OPTIONS IN THE EARLY PLANNING STAGES During our initial meeting, we often discuss how we can help standardize technology across multiple homes in several states.

Our primary goal is to make technology

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straightforward and easy to use long-term.

The responsibility of the technology contractor is to ask the right questions upfront to design a system that can satisfy several users and their needs. Excellent communication at this stage sets the tone for the entire client-professional relationship.

By getting involved early, we can consider the surrounding environment and make every reasonable effort to blend various technologies in a way that either complements the architecture or disappear completely. It takes a team of professionals dedicated to getting it right on time, the first time and solid communication over the course of the project.

Service and support must also be simple.

This is a primary differentiator among those in our industry. A service mindset is necessary during the design phases. Cabling needs to be organized and labeled so additions in the future are easily accomplished and do not require days of investigation. Service must be executed quickly, remotely, and accurately.

Documentation is key and experience weighs heavily. Choosing a client-focused, serviceoriented technology specialist provides a huge benefit in the long run.

EXPERTISE AVOIDS BIG HEADACHES We now live in a time of near infinite product choices for WiFi, security, lighting, motorized shades, speakers, TVs, cameras, voice assistants, and so on. The question is what

to choose? With a simple click of a button these things can show up at our doorstep. But a modern tragedy can set in when we realize that making them all work together is not as easy and simple as the manufacturer made it seem.

It takes a professional technology company to bridge the gap, basically serving as the technology general contractor. We frequently take on scopes of work that would otherwise require several contractors to handle security, window coverings, lighting controls and heat integration. We engage in the process at the early planning stages—usually before concrete is ever poured—and can help shape certain decisions around technology and systems that folks interact with daily.

PRODUCTS THAT MAKE LIFE EASIER Voice control products have advanced tremendously in recent years. They are now simple and easy to use, privacy oriented, and more customizable. An ever-growing technology business, Josh.Ai (www.josh. ai), easily integrates a home’s lighting, heat, shades, A/V, and other systems. The voice command allows you to speak naturally and with ease, a concept that was previously clunky at best and certainly never concerned with privacy.

Another company, Crestron (www. crestron.com), is the leader in user interface controls for both residential and commercial spaces. The Crestron Home products

completely revolutionize the end user experience, winning numerous industry awards and continuously updating and developing with the times. We have grown with Crestron over the course of 20 years and have watched as they continue to push industry standards in new and exciting directions.

The bottom line? When looking for a technology contractor, you want a company that is going to be there for the long haul.

Our clients value integrated systems that are easy to use and can be standardized, oftentimes across multiple properties in different states. This takes a team with forethought, excellent communication, and the ability to plan for now and the future.

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APERTURE PAVILION Nestled on the eastern bank of the Slate River at the base of Mount Crested Butte, the Aperture Multipurpose Pavilion will serve as a landmark community hub for gatherings year-round.

This stately pavilion, part of a new residential development known as Aperture, is carefully sited to capture the dramatic views of the valley and Mt. Crested Butte. Providing a welcome as you enter the community, the modern pavilion structure is a gathering place for neighbors to meet around the firepit and look out from every direction. Direct access to the Slate River activates the space even more and offers a shelter to take pause before continuing back to your home or a neighbor’s.

Collaboration between trades allowed for unique details of wood and steel joinery. The truss design with steel collar ties and kingpost ground the pavilion and minimize obstructing site lines to the open sky and mountains. Simplicity of materials allows for the structure to blend in with its surroundings and not draw attention to itself.

This shelter is intended to capture the spirit of Aperture and this unique place.

ARCHITECT: SHM Architects BUILDER: Michael Weil LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Sprout Studio Inc. PHOTOGRAPHY: Mountain Magic Media

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BRITISH COLUMBIA ALBERTA

SASKATCHEWAN

MANITOB

WASHINGTON NORTH DAKOTA

MONTANA

OREGON SOUTH DAKOTA

IDAHO WYOMING

NEBRASKA NEVADA

UTAH

COLORADO

KANSA

CA CALIFORNIA

OK ARIZONA NEW MEXICO

BA BAJA TEXAS SONORA

CHIH HUAHUA CHIHUAHUA COAHUILA

NUEVO LEON

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WHERE WE’VE WORKED

TAMAUL

A

ONTARIO

QUEBEC

NEW BRUNSWICK

MAINE

NOVA SCOTIA

MINNESOTA

AS

KLAHOMA

VERMONT NEW HAMPSHIRE

WISCONSIN

MASS.

NEW YORK

CT

MICHIGAN

PENNSYLVANIA IOWA

NJ OHIO ILLINOIS

MARYLAND

DIANA NA INDIANA WEST VIRGINIA VIRGINIA

MISSOURI KENTUCKY NORTH CAROLILNA TENNESSEE SOUTH CAROLILNA

A ARKANSAS

MIIS SISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI

LOUISIAN IANA NA LOUISIANA

ALABAMA

GEORGIA

FLORIDA

LIP

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OFFICE PHOTOS OF SEASONS?

OFFICE PHOTOS OF SEASONS?

OFFICE PHOTOS OF SEASONS?

CRESTED BUTTE, COLORADO 126 Elk Avenue, Suite 1W Crested Butte, Colorado 81224 970 713 0700 DALLAS, TEXAS 4514 Travis Street, Suite 302 Dallas, Texas 75205 214 252 3830 www.shmarchitects.com info@shmarchitects.com © All Rights Reserved. SHM Architects, PLLC

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