Art by Architects

Principal Scott Rodwin has been an artist pretty much his whole life.  Now you can see some of his work at three free public shows in November:

  • Rembrandt Yard – 17 of Scott’s modern abstract paintings in a two man show.  Opening reception Wed., Nov. 11th, 1301 Spruce St, Boulder CO.
  • Art by Architects show – Artwork by 13 Colorado Architects. Opening reception Thurs. Nov. 5th, 5-8pm; @ U. of Colorado, College of Architecture, 1250, 14th Street, Denver, 2nd flr. Gallery. Proceeds benefit the AIA Architectural Education Foundation scholarship program.
  • Vilona Art Gallery – “Small Works Juried Art Show” featuring 3 of Scott’s beautiful translucent Italian alabaster sculptures among 200 works by 63 local artists, Opening reception Nov. 6th, 6-8pm. 1815 Pearl St, Boulder CO.

Art makes a great Christmas/Hanukkah gift!

Boulder Politics - A Message from Scott

For those of you who live in Boulder, here is a quick voting guide.  Please feel free to forward it around. I get involved in local politics and planning policy because it has dramatic impacts on all our lives.  My main criteria for these recommendations are environmental and social responsibility.Please vote NO on ballot issue #300 & 301. They have deceptively innocuous and reasonable sounding names, but their impacts will be quite negative.300 – Neighborhood right to vote – divides Boulder into 60+ neighborhoods, all of which are interested in keeping “unwanted” projects in someone else’s backyard – it allows just 10% of any neighborhood to force an expensive vote on any proposed upzoning. The delay, expense and uncertainty it adds will in effect kill all affordable housing projects forever (including co-ops and cohousing).301 – Development shall pay its own way – It already does.  Boulder already has some of the highest development fees in the region.  Proponents claim that developers will simply reduce their profits to pay for the extra fees, but in reality we know that all costs flow through to the end purchaser/renter, making the cost of living in Boulder even higher.  Additionally, independent reviewers of the proposal agree that the vague language of this ballot will stop all development in its tracks (potentially for years) as the fee formulas are hashed out in courts.Both 300& 301 will have the direct impact on cutting off supply of housing, which will accelerate already skyrocketing prices.  If you care about affordable housing, please vote NO on 300 & 301.Lastly, Sierra Club, the Urban Land Institute, the American Planning Association and every other national planning organization in the country agree that concentrating new development in currently developed areas is the preferred location because:

  1. Reduces urban sprawl and the habitat destruction that comes with it.
  2. Promotes the use of alternative modes of transit.
  3. Reduces the size and energy consumption of dwelling units and the carbon footprint per capital associated with each dwelling unit.

So if you care about the environment, please vote no on 300 & 301.

There are five open seats on City Council this year.  The folks I am voting for and supporting are:

Bob Yates — Former Chairman of Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. He’s an all around great guy and community member. He’s a former exec turned non-profit leader.

Aaron Brockett — Already a strong, independent voice of reason on the Planning Board, focused on land use, Open Space, the arts, and transportation. He is a dad, lives in the Holiday neighborhood, is a balanced and reasoned voice on Planning Board. He is amazing.

Jan Burton — Jan is an intelligent and kind person who listens well. She brings refreshing perspective as a long-time tech executive, now focused on creative housing solutions and inclusive leadership.

Bill Rigler — A young, strong voice from a former international aid expert turned Naropa executive, with an emphasis on encouraging our entrepreneurial economy.

Tim Plass — An independent voice on Council for restraint and moderation, and a leader on economic policy and land use.

If you’re interested in learning more about these folks you can see their answers to Open Boulder’s questionnaire (and those of all the candidates) here: http://openboulder.org

Thanks,

Scott

Function Meets Beauty

Farmhouse recently made waves in the press with Boulder Lifestyles’ publication of our LEED Platinum home! Read more to find out about our client’s vision for their home, and how Scott Rodwin and the team was able to make it a reality.

http://www.boulderlifestylepubs.com/2015/07/27/function-meets-beauty-a-right-sized-green-home/

Top Green Materials and Practices

Here is an article featuring our President, Scott, as he discusses green building. Material selections and heating/cooling systems are just as important as dealing with site waste disposal months later. Take a look at these 11 steps of utilizing green materials and practices that we think are worth prioritizing.

Meet Tim

If you’re building a high-quality project, you want a guy like our Senior Site Supervisor Tim Roddan. He’s the ‘buck stops here’ guy on many of our best houses over the last five years. He talks straight and is a stickler for the highest quality construction. Tim brings 38 years of experience and a dedicated, no-excuses, problem-solving attitude to the jobsite. It shows. His projects regularly end up with amazing energy performance, flawless finishes and a great connection with the homeowners. If you are very lucky, you might get Tim on your next project.

Coco's Art Box

This unique remodel and addition is for a one-of-a-kind client. Coco is a prolific artist with an eclectic, exuberant, rebellious and decidedly quirky approach to life, art and architecture. Perhaps more than any project we’ve ever done, this house truly embodies our client’s personality and mission. The Art Box is a tall, sunny, versatile loft, with funky windows punched in seemingly random patterns to create surprising and delightful views.   {Read More} 

“It is a living-sculpture dream come true!”

– Coco

Re-building after the Flood

Home and Hood Magazine – Rebuilding after the flood. Huy Lam dug his shovel into the deep sand and continued to excavate the buried play-structure in what used to be his family’s back yard. Twenty feet away, the creek that used to be on one side of the house now flowed swiftly down the other. When the stream moved, it dumped hundreds of tons of sand and rock all over his property and it tore away a good chunk of the house.

“I’m not sure what comes next. It all depends on what the County decides to do with the creek”, Huy said between shovels.

For six months from the time of the flood, the County is allowing flood victims to bypass the daunting Site Plan Review process (as long as the re-constructed house is the same size as the original), but all new construction must still meet all local building codes. The green building codes are some of the most rigorous in the Country, and many of the older homes that were damaged will require a substantial upgrade to their envelope and mechanical systems in order to meet them.

The Lams have a long way to go before they can get back into their home: County reviews; navigating insurance and mortgage requirements; figuring out how to best rebuild with the insurance settlement; getting a building permit; re-building the house; moving back in; and perhaps most important of all, repairing the land that made them want to live in this beautiful, but (every 500 years) dangerous place in the first place.

We are currently assisting them to reconstruct their home to begin living after the flood.

Gunung Mas Ranch

Gunung Mas Ranch is just outside of Gold Hill. The 3795 s.f. contemporary mountain style home features 360 degree views over the Switzerland Trail and Indian Peaks Wilderness. A passive solar design, photovoltaic array, excellent windows and insulation, a high-efficiency mechanical system (including an ERV), combine to create an energy-efficient HERS 40 home (uses 60% less energy than allowed by code). We worked carefully to incorporate the existing historic features on this mountain ranch, framing remnants of existing quartz walls in a landscaped courtyard, and restoring and Landmarking the original homestead. The new home includes an open floor plan with vaulted ceilings, large outdoor decks, and rustic yet contemporary finishes.

Boulder Lifestyle Magazine – Click Here

Stanley Residence

Our clients moved in to this modest off-grid Near-Net Zero Energy home in starkly beautiful Cotopaxi, CO.  Solar PV, solar hot water and a robust insulation package combined to achieve a HERS 5 (95% less energy than allowed by code) rating.  The low-profile, low-maintenance, and simple geometry of the envelope were characteristics specifically chosen to meet the Owner’s requirements for economy, sustainability, simplicity and durability.

Cloudman Residence

This summer we completed this beautiful new home for Terry and Jenny Cloudman in the Boulder County foothills.  This project was a Design/Build effort with Rodwin Architecture led by Principal Scott Rodwin and Associate Kirsten Snobeck, and went smoothly from start to finish.  VP of Construction Brandon David, and Site Superintendent Tim Roddan insured an impeccable level of quality and architectural integrity in every detail.   This HERS 22 home has a contemporary Craftsman & Japanese influences, with soaring sunny rooms open to expansive views and flowing indoor/outdoor gardens and patios.  We are currently working on several design/build custom green homes in Boulder County – stay tuned for photos of these exciting projects, including an iconic rebuild in the Four Mile Fire area.

 

 “We absolutely love the house.
It was a joy working with all of you.”

                        – Jenny Cloudman

Understanding the Rules for Building Homes in Boulder

We offer this workshop and has excellent feedback so we’ve been asked to bring it back for a repeat performance. Want to know what you are allowed to do with a property?  Scott Rodwin and Kirsten Snobeck will be presenting this fast-paced and essential class through the Boulder Area Realtor’s Association. It is an overview of all the rules for City and County – the Compatible Development Ordinance, Greenpoints, Solar Shadow rules, Ignition-resistant construction rules, the County Site Plan Review process, Buildsmart, EnergySmart and a brief overview of the cost of construction and current building codes.  The rules are complex, rigorous and constantly changing. Get all the latest information so you can speak with confidence when clients ask you what they are allowed to do with a property.