DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
WPA : Formally the language plays off of and extends a mid-century vocabulary to create something of its own time.
Programmatically the front is reserved while the back side opens up and participates in various connections to outdoor living and landscape.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
WPA : I wanted to achieve an expansive spatial feeling woven into a small site and buildable footprint that engaged the broader topography of the Rocky Mountains. The climate is spectacular and user friendly and there is no reason to shut it out as architecture had so often in the past.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
WPA : Well its been published extensively - architect magazine - to name one as well as numerous online publications.
My hope for this project is that it will generate new projects, new challenges.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
WPA : Several years - it was a very slow process.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
WPA : This project was unique as it was initially developed without a client as a speculative project that morphed into a more typical architect-client relationship once a client became vested.
DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
WPA : This is a private work of architecture and not a reproducible dwelling.
DI: What made you design this particular type of work?
WPA : A constellation of items really - site opportunities and constraints, limited FAR and a smallish site with incredible view planes both near and far.
DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
WPA : Yes! a talented landscape architect as well as the usual consultants.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
WPA : A family house for those who want to live in Aspen, CO.
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
WPA : Expansive living was created within a small container. Spatial leaks, overlaps and interpenetrating volumes allowed this to happen.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
WPA : Key geographical features were able to be brought into focus within the house interior. The house is really a focusing device for exterior scenes both Near and Far, hence the name, 'Near Far house'.
DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
WPA : Physical models, site topography, mapping and perspective renderings were all employed. The lengthy time it took to develop the project allowed for maximum study and reflection.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
WPA : Interior spaces are typically expanding outward, beyond the limited boundaries of the enclosure or in relation to each other.
DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
WPA : Structural and Civil engineers, a landscape architect and I must include the builder who brought many talented craftspeople onboard.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
WPA : It is a low tech, passive design from an energy perspective. The steel structural frame is rather sophisticated. Technology is embraced.
DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
WPA : Site analysis helped define the goals and desires for the interior settings. The mountainous terrain provided ample room for analysis and discovery.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
WPA : The great recession put the construction of this project back several years. Despite this the outcome was made even better by the fact that the owner had such high expectations for execution.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
WPA : It was one of our newer completed projects despite the fact that is was designed some years ago. The quality of the interior we all felt warranted participation in this event as well.
DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
WPA : The design process itself was rigorous which confirmed the long held belief that there are no shortcuts to great design work. Every step of the development came from thoughtful consideration of the interior settings and their relationship to each other the magnificent mountainous site.
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
WPA : I think the questionnaire is a good one and elicited all sorts of things abut this project and i hadn't thought about in a long time. Thanks for the opportunity to share these comments.
