a4architects » custom

New North Dorm at CRMS

David Darling — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:10:10 +0000

Just completed dormitory and faculty residence at Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale.

Faculty Residence (red) connects to the dormitory. The dark recess in the distance is a covered bike storage area, adjacent to one of the main entries.

Large volume in the center contains a common room. Dorm rooms are in low wings to either side.

West entry faces cottonwoods along an old ditch.

Upstairs in the faculty residence, a slightly oversized hall can accomodate a desk, playpen, excercise bike or ironing board.

Zebra striped bamboo cabinets with climbing webbing pulls.

The common room, lined with local, beetle-kill pine. High windows capture a glimpse of Red Hill, a favorite mountain biking spot. Built-in study counters and a bench reduce the amount of furniture needed.

A sun shade on the large, south facing window in the common room is adjacent to the east entry.

CRMS Students Making Chandelier for New Dorm

David Darling — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:02:09 +0000

A4 has been working with Colorado Rocky Mountain School for a while now on refining their campus, including designs for two new dorms and a music studio and rehearsal space. During their current interim week, CRMS students are creating a chandelier for the reception room of the new North Dorm. Working together, the glass blowing and blacksmithing classes designed the metal and glass piece, starting with a small scale model shown below. Now they are in their separate studios making the glass and steel portions of the structure, which will later be fit with LED lights.

While the North Dorm is still just a building shell, the students are already anxious to move in.

The small scale model of the metal portion of the chandelier, showing how it will hang from the ceiling. A full-size mock-up is on the table in the background.

A student forging a bar of steel

Rolling a piece of molten glass to keep it symmetrical.

Students working together to form a glass piece

Custom Bench Design for Basalt Library Plaza

David Darling — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:33:17 +0000

The 5° Seating line of site furniture for the Basalt Regional Library plaza was designed by A4 to compliment the library building. These benches and bike racks are built out of steel and ipé wood with longevity and ease of maintenance in mind. The first bench prototype is currently being manufactured by local craftsmen and will be on display for First Friday.