TERRA VERDE ARCHITECTS
Boulder, Colo.
terraverdearch.com

Project name: The Colorado Farmhouse
Project location: Broomfield, Colo.
Square footage: Main level: 2,423 Upper: 2,066

The clients of this home desired a country style farmhouse on the plains of Colorado that would glorify the family’s farming legacy. As the family would grow into the next generation, the owner wanted everyone to feel welcomed and know their roots were in the farmhouse.

One challenge for Terra Verde Architects located in Boulder, Colo., was the owner’s desire for the home to be barrier-free and available to the outside, yet inconspicuously supportive for limited mobility. Other challenges presented were the requests for large open spaces for family gatherings and quiet, private nooks off to the side. And most of all, creating a design that allows the solitude of the farmland to be the essential spirit of the home.

Terre Verde Architects created spaces that flowed from one to another with as few walls and doors as possible, and employed large windows for the views of the distant mountains. By designing the galley-style master bathroom, placing a window bench in the laundry room and using a long center island in the kitchen, the owner was able to support herself as she went about her daily chores without walking aids. There are no steps from the inside to the outside, no threshold too narrow or too wide to safely maneuver. The plan was entirely designed using accessible guidelines with effortless circulation, and an attempt to make everyone feel comfortable.