• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Architect: KA DesignWorks

Interior Designer: Tandem Design Group

Construction: Maley Building Corporation

Photography: Dallas & Harris Photography

KA DesignWorks has completed the transformation of an aging riverfront property in Colorado, creating a contemporary family residence that carefully balances preservation, adaptive reuse and modern architecture while strengthening its connection to the Frying Pan River.

The project began with an existing cabin and detached garage that possessed character and history but lacked functional links, clear circulation and a meaningful relationship with the surrounding landscape. Rather than replacing the original structures, KA DesignWorks developed a strategy that retained their identity while introducing carefully considered additions to create a cohesive home.

A key intervention by KA DesignWorks was the introduction of a new connecting element between the cabin and garage. This addition establishes a clear point of arrival while incorporating practical mudroom and entrance facilities, unifying the previously disconnected buildings and significantly improving the property’s everyday functionality.

To maximise the site’s exceptional riverfront setting, KA DesignWorks designed a new gabled pavilion that accommodates the primary living spaces. The open plan volume brings together the living room, dining area and kitchen, positioning them to capture uninterrupted views across the Frying Pan River. Expansive glazing and exposed steel trusses create generous, light filled interiors while allowing the surrounding landscape to become an integral part of daily life.

The original cabin was sensitively reconfigured to accommodate the principal suite and guest bedrooms, preserving its scale and character while adapting it for contemporary family living. Throughout the project, KA DesignWorks paid close attention to the scale, materiality and massing of the new additions to ensure they complemented both the existing architecture and the natural setting.

According to KA DesignWorks, the greatest success of the project lies in the way it resolves multiple challenges through a single architectural approach. The clear distinction between the private accommodation within the original cabin and the new public living spaces creates an intuitive flow while allowing each structure to retain its own purpose and identity.