New Operations Workshop Crafts Harmony Between Structure and Nature

At 10,600 feet above sea level, where the air thins and the landscape commands reverence, stands Mountain House, an embodiment between human intervention and natural splendor. The Colorado mountain house was designed by Gabriel Yuri, founder of New Operations Workshop, for his parents as an addition to their vacation home. The charred exterior walls of this mountain retreat – treated with the ancient Japanese technique of Shou Sugi Ban – appear as if the surrounding wilderness itself has scorched them.

Modern interior with a spiral staircase, light wood flooring, and large windows. Open living space includes seating, dining area, and shelves with decorative items.

“I was initially uncertain about taking on the project, thinking my parents might encourage a more conservative, traditional approach than what we usually embrace,” says Gabriel Yuri. “But after a few conversations, it became clear that they were willing to trust us in whatever approach we decided to take.”

Minimalist dining room with large windows overlooking snowy trees. A long table, chairs, a bench, a wall tapestry, and a black reclining chair adorn the space.

This material duality – the blackened protective shell and light interior – traces back through both Japanese and Scandinavian design traditions. Yet in this remote location, two hours west of Denver, these influences transform into something uniquely American. The designer insisted on preservation rather than demolition, allowing the original geometry to remain but instead reinterpreted, expanded, and opened to frame specific views of the Rocky Mountains.

Modern living room with large windows, a lit fireplace, minimalist décor, and two black chairs. Snowy forest view outside.

Modern living and dining area with light wood floors, a central fireplace, a cushioned seating nook, black chair, and a dining table with black chairs. Large windows and a woven wall decoration.

Modern interior with light wood floors, a dining area with a round table and chairs, a cozy sunken living area, and large windows showing a snowy landscape outside.

Southern glazing and strategically placed skylights harness passive solar energy, while modular, adaptable spaces accommodate family gatherings. Slate flagstone floors that extend seamlessly from indoors to outdoors dissolve those same boundaries, creating a space that connects with its surroundings. Yuri’s integration of built-in furniture using the same white oak as floors, walls, and ceilings creates a holistic environment where furniture becomes architecture and vice versa.

mountain house new operations workshop 12

Minimalist bedroom with light wood paneling, large windows, and sloped ceiling. A bed with dark bedding, a chair, and a small desk with decor are present. Snowy trees visible outside.

Minimalist bedroom with a large window overlooking snowy trees. Features a single bed, freestanding black bathtub, and wood-paneled walls and floor.

Yuri continues by stating, “The short construction period due (essentially late May to early November) as well as the elevation and remoteness of the site were all challenges. These were overcome through surgical scheduling of the construction process and using as many local materials as possible.”

Minimalist bedroom with a wooden interior, featuring a bed facing a large window. Snowy forest landscape is visible outside.

Modern bedroom with a large bed, wooden beams, and a desk under two windows. A vase with branches and framed pictures decorate the room, overlooking snow-covered trees outside.

Minimalist wooden workspace under a sloped ceiling, featuring a desk with a chair, books, a small sculpture, a window view of trees, and a vase with purple flowers.

Slate-tiled shower room with a wooden stool and bucket, featuring a large window offering a snowy forest view.

Modern bedroom-bathroom with a black freestanding tub, wooden walls, large window with snowy forest view, small wooden side table, and a black faucet by a geometric mirror and sink.

Snow-covered modern house with large windows amid pine trees and mountains in the background, during dusk.

A snow-covered house in a dense forested valley, illuminated warmly at dusk, surrounded by mountains under a dimly lit cloudy sky.

Visit New Operations Workshop for more information.

Styling by Logan Sommers.
Photography by Bruce Damonte.

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