Create your own with Boulder’s premier design/build firm Rodwin Architecture/Skycastle Construction.
Scott Rodwin’s clients sometimes feel a little desperate when they first meet him. They may have scoured Boulder County for their dream home or considered building – only to be daunted by the County’s complex regulations. Yet in today’s superheated real estate market, where less-than-lovely homes can demand hundreds of thousands above listing price, Rodwin and his team are problem solvers and dream makers. As founder of Boulder County’s premier architect-led design/build firm of Rodwin Architecture and Skycastle Construction, Rodwin helps families answer the question he’s been asked most this year: “How do I achieve the home I want when it doesn’t exist?”
Rodwin explained, “Many people have heard how challenging it is to build in Boulder County, and it’s true we have extremely rigorous rules, preventing some from attempting to take the path less traveled.” This is where Rodwin/Skycastle turns dreams into a custom-designed reality. “For 22 years,” Rodwin said, “we have specialized in helping people successfully navigate that system and create a home with the optimal balance of beauty and sustainability, budget and code compliance.” Rodwin and Skycastle’s profound understanding of the ins and outs of building in Boulder County underlies the firm’s commitment to crafting efficient, luxurious homes in a range of styles, all designed to enhance the homeowner’s desired lifestyle.
“We’re able to bring together the best aspects of architecture and construction for the benefit of our clients right from the start,” Rodwin said. “That allows us to predict and control costs, in addition to helping the client understand the restrictions of zoning and building codes so there are no unpleasant surprises.” Furthermore, he continued, “Our expertise in sustainable design allows us to create homes that perform at the highest levels of green building while fully maintaining their beauty and functionality.”
Top-quality, beautiful green building
Indeed, it was Rodwin and Skycastle’s award-winning green building, plus Rodwin’s creative designs, that drew Jennifer and Robin Johnson to the firm. The Johnsons flew from France, having lived abroad for 13 years, to meet Rodwin and tour a couple of his completed projects. Jennifer recalled, “The quality of the design, build and the look and feel of… the homes he showed us were streaks ahead of anything we had been shown by the local realtor.”
About 20 months and many Facetime meetings from France later, the Johnsons moved into their new home, dubbed Deerhouse (for the frequent visitors to their yard). Jennifer adores the seamless indoor/outdoor flow of their living space and the show-shopping views of the Flatirons captured through meticulously-placed bedroom windows. She said, “It’s modern, exceptionally efficient, just the right size for the four of us and won’t be too much house once the children have left home” – in sum, everything the Johnsons wanted.
Since they partnered with Skycastle Construction with a fixed fee for project management, “there were no major issues or surprises during construction,” Jennifer said. “Scott helped us realize that we could finish on time and within budget without compromising quality or the integrity of the design. When Scott said, ‘Think of designing and building your home as one big art project,’ I was hooked.”
The architecture and construction teams collaborate throughout the process.
Create the home of your dreams
Another Boulder family testified that Rodwin/Skycastle delivered their dream home, the Treehouse, “just when we thought we couldn’t have what we were looking for,” one of the homeowners said. She added, “We had heard just enough to fear building in Boulder County. Then we learned about Scott, and we were able to get everything we wanted.” For this family, that meant a spacious front porch overlooking incredible vistas, main-floor living bathed in natural light and an elevator – Rodwin’s idea – to ensure that they can comfortably live in the home for many years. The owner said, “We honestly didn’t have any major obstacles during the build because Scott took care of everything beforehand, giving us confidence to proceed.”
Rodwin Architecture offers a free site visit and project feasibility analysis to potential clients. To learn more about building a dream home ideally suited to your lifestyle and to opt out of today’s over-the-top real estate market, visit rodwinarch.com and skycastleconstruction.com.
By Sarah Huber, At Home Colorado
