Scarlett’s Aspen Architect Series: The Power of Storytelling & Design

With nature designing its own palette of deep pastel sunset colors outside the windows, our guests flowed into Scarlett’s for the Aspen Business Connect conversation, “The Power of Storytelling & Design.”

After a good bout of reconnecting and mingling, Moderator Rich Carr, Partner and Principal of CCY Architects, introduced the panelists; Todd Kennedy, also a Partner and Principal of CCY Architects; Sheri Sanzone, Principal of Bluegreen; and Derek Skalko, Principal, 1Friday Design, who each took the stage to speak to their passion for design and transcending trends while also divulging the processes, discoveries, and challenges that emerged from selected projects. The guests chimed in throughout the conversation with questions and comments.

The Power of Storytelling & Design

With each presentation, we learned the story behind the projects, with a common thread coursing of creating a connection between the land, the client, the design, and the history of each project. 

The Victorian Music Box

A family compound designed to marry an 1880s Victorian with a modern, music-inspired addition, Kennedy shared his story about how the client’s desires with the Victorian Music Box were expressed through design and architecture. 

Sunlight enters the Music Box on all sides, but unwanted alley views and harsh western light is filtered out by perforated siding in a pattern derived from Chopin’s composition, “Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Op.9, No.2,” a favorite of the client’s.

CCY Architects

DNA Alpine in Telluride

Responding to the owner’s interest in synthetic biology and the family’s love of the land, Todd Kennedy showed how the siding of the DNA Alpine home located in the alpine landscape of the San Juan Mountains is composed of a series of four metal profiles arranged in a pattern derived from the DNA sequence of the adjacent Engelmann Spruce trees that tower over the land.

Responding to the owner’s interest in synthetic biology, the siding is composed of a series of four metal profiles arranged in a pattern derived from the DNA sequence of the adjacent Engelmann Spruce trees that tower over the land. The angle of each of the siding profiles is slightly different, creating a subtle distortion in the reflection of the landscape that transforms as the light changes.

CCY Architects

The Lundy House

Skalko delved us deeper into the heart of design through his own impressive images taken of the Lundy House remodel, speaking to his desire to unearth the lineage of the house and retain the historical significance, while redesigning for the Lundy family, he drew his audience in, showing how the design became richer by integrating rather than scraping the history of the original building.

301 Lake Avenue, known also as the Lundy Residence due to its original architect, Victor Lundy, FAIA, is arguably the most important residential restoration / redevelopment project 1 Friday has been commissioned to date. We began our rigored journey by always keeping in mind the question, “How does one add onto a masterpiece?” While ensuring we wouldn’t become too reverent to the past, we always pursued our design exploration from a foundation of respect and restraint.

1Friday Design

Landscape Design

As a prominent landscape architect, Sanzone shared how landscapes are rooted in their work at Bluegreen. With both of her projects that she presented, the aspect of water was prevalent in the design.

Double Bar X

For Double Bar X, located just past the round-a-bout in Aspen, the history and story were the basis for the design, incorporating a sustainable solution for conserving the open space with perennial plant selection and a rain garden for a more responsible, less energy consumptive landscape, and to preserve the character from the ranching days as well as the wildlife and vegetation. 

Old Mining Site on French Creek in Breckenridge

Designing a park in an old mining site in Breckenridge, Sanzone spoke of the importance of conflict resolution to come to a mutual agreement on the design and to restore rather than remove traces of history.

With over 80 guests attending, the event was a tremendous success, encompassing all the elements it takes to make for an enchanting evening of storytelling and connection.

The event was catered by Mladen Todorovic, owner of Aspen Over Easy. If you haven’t been to this charming breakfast spot you must go! Located in the Scarlett’s restaurant space on the second floor above the retail shops at the corner of Galena Street and Hopkins Avenue, they now are offering patio seating on nice days. Follow @aspenovereasybreakfastclub on Instagram.

Images: Draper White