Gold Hill Hobbit House
Not long after finishing at CU Boulder, while I was doing some engineering for strawbale houses, I first met Karel and Alice who asked if I would work with them on this eclectic house built into the mountain near Gold Hill. It gave me a chance to don a tool belt and learn every aspect of residential construction. I spent 3.5 years (about half of the time it took to finish) managing and on the crew, taking it from excavation and foundation through the start of interior finishes. The house was designed by Alice using the logarithmic spiral found in nature, like the chambered nautilus shell. About half of the house was underground. This is the project where I found my right livelihood and love for working in the mountains. It also introduced me to some talented Hispanic masons that built these stone walls on the house, still friends who I work with occasionally today. The home was featured in 2007 issues of Natural Home and Boulder County Home and Garden magazines.
Center bay of the greenhouse
Looking through west bay of greenhouse
North tower with custom copper shingle roof and wrapped soffit
The floor plan with the house growing out of the kitchen
East wing wall overlooking greenhouse
