Princeton Architectural Press announces the publication of Designing Aspen: The Houses of Rowland+Broughton, a richly crafted volume that captures the spirit, rigor, and creative philosophy of one of Colorado’s most influential architecture and interior design studios. Known for shaping Aspen through visionary urban design, careful historic preservation, and an unwavering respect for place, Rowland+Broughton presents ten exemplary residential projects that define the firm’s practice.
Founded in 2003 by John Rowland, AIA, and Sarah Broughton, FAIA, NCIDQ, Rowland+Broughton has long been recognized for its critically thoughtful and deeply contextual work. This book offers a comprehensive look at the homes that anchor the studio’s legacy, each one a study in precision, restraint, and harmony with the surrounding Rocky Mountain landscape.
Featuring photography by Lisa Romerein, authorized exclusively for this publication, the volume reveals mountain living at its most considered. From Mountain Retreat, a modern interpretation of a lodge at the base of Aspen Highlands, to Meadow House, set lightly at the edge of a spruce forest, every project demonstrates the firm’s command of light, materiality, and spatial balance. Art Barn, created as a vessel for an art collection, and Bagua House, a serene Zen retreat, further illustrate the studio’s ability to shape environments around the lives and aspirations of their clients.
Written in collaboration with architecture and design writer Marc Kristal, the book expands beyond design documentation. Insightful pieces trace Aspen’s cultural evolution, emphasize the lasting importance of preservation, and articulate the firm’s commitment to collaborative, client-centered practice. A foreword by esteemed architect Tom Kundig underscores the significance of Rowland+Broughton’s contribution to contemporary mountain architecture.
Throughout its pages, Designing Aspen presents a portrait of a place and the people who have helped define it. Aspen’s history, its layered character, and its enduring ideal of unity between mind, body, and spirit appear as constant threads. The selected residences show how architecture can engage with landscape, honor local heritage, and elevate daily life without imposing a singular style. Instead, each home becomes a convergence of personality, context, and craft.
The Rowland+Broughton book reflects a broader ethos: that architecture, landscape, interior design, planning, and urban design function most powerfully when they work together. This integrated approach has earned the firm repeated recognition, including numerous awards from the American Institute of Architects and the City of Aspen’s Historic Preservation Commission.
The volume offers readers a clear path through the firm’s thinking. It serves as both an architectural showcase and an exploration of place, memory, and the enduring value of design rooted in respect and curiosity.
Designing Aspen will appeal to readers who appreciate thoughtful residential architecture, to those drawn to the character of mountain towns, and to anyone seeking insight into the craft of building a home that lives in balance with its environment. As Aspen moves through its next chapter, this book captures the work of a studio that continues to honor what came before while imagining what is yet to come.
Image Credit: Lisa Romerein
