One of Aspen’s coolest spots just got a little more comfortable. In 2019, leading architecture and design firm Rowland+Broughton celebrated the completion of W Hotel’s first luxury mountain escape in North America: W Aspen.
This grand resort in Aspen, Colorado was designed as a modern interpretation of the classic ski chalet. It features 88 guest rooms and 11 fractional residences, a gym, lounge, lounge terrace and public and residential roof decks, among other luxurious amenities. When it comes to climate control, R+B opted to implement Infratech W-Series and WD-Series pole-mounted and wall-mounted heaters to bring comfort to the hotel’s outdoor gathering spaces, enabling guests to enjoy the best this scenic mountain destination has to offer – year-round. These low-profile heaters add environmentally friendly, ambient warmth to both the WET® Deck and Living Room Terrace, without drawing attention away from the gorgeous mountain views.
We spoke with R+B to learn more about the creative process that went behind building such a luxurious, expansive resort.
Your firm approaches each project with a focus on understanding its regional and environmental impact as well as the cultural and personal ambitions it aspires to meet. What were the specific needs and goals when designing this modern chalet?
With a goal of reinvigorating the already wide variety of architectural types that contribute to Aspen’s strong sense of place, we sought to design a modern interpretation of a traditional chalet reminiscent of its skiing legacy.
Describe the architecture of the hotel.
The architecture expresses a sense of a gradual evolution of form and space, while remaining grounded in the chalet vernacular. Traditional characteristics of low-pitched singular rooflines, deep overhangs, continuous balconies, and flower boxes are juxtaposed with varying roof compositions, along with modern railings and wood slats that organize balcony volumes.
Why did you specify Infratech’s W-Series heaters for the hotel’s rooftop decks and outdoor entertaining terraces?
Infratech Heaters are our go-to application for heating outdoor areas in projects that require it – and W Aspen is a perfect example. With a heated pool, hot tub, fire pits, cabanas, full bar, dance floor, DJ booth, and panoramic views of Aspen, W Aspen’s year-round WET® Deck is the only rooftop deck in town that’s fully accessible to the community as well as guests. Specifying Infratech Heaters in specific areas around the WET® Deck helped ensure that users were able to enjoy their rooftop experiences in relative warmth – even when there’s snow on the slopes. Heaters installed on the Owners’ Deck and Living Room Terrace, with its folding glass doors, encourage an indoor-outdoor connection in those areas as well.
—Sarah Broughton, AIA, NCIDQ, Principal, Rowland+Broughton
What was the overall inspiration for the Living Room design?
We wanted The Living Room to be a sophisticated alpine setting for dining and cocktails, with a landscaped outdoor terrace for entertaining.
“W Aspen is a great example of how the true spirit of a property can be maintained while elevating the experiences of the next generation of travelers and residents. The iconic chalet style was first introduced to Aspen in the 1940s and, over time, the style has been slowly eroded. The new design as a modern-day translation and renaissance of the chalet architectural style, with its sloping roofs, natural high-quality materials, many articulations and public accessed rooftop, weaves into the fabric of Aspen and contributes to the base of the mountain. The variety of amenities and thoughtfully designed public spaces at W Aspen provide a venue and place to stay that encourages youth and fun. We are proud to be a part of such an amazing project.”
—John Rowland, AIA, Principal, Rowland+Broughton