Private Aspen: Modernism in the Mountains

An elevated view of the landscape and cultural setting that make Aspen, Colorado, a legendary destination

Tucked into a remote valley along the Roaring Fork River and surrounded by a majestic Rocky Mountain landscape, Aspen is a unique destination. Its magnificent, rugged landscape is home to luxe ski resorts, world-class museums, and stunning private retreats.

Private Aspen is an exclusive invitation to explore eighteen elegant modernist houses. Built from materials such as reclaimed wood and local stone, with expansive views out through glazed walls, these stunning private residences reflect the grandeur of their setting.

Richly illustrated with more than 150 photographs, the book showcases houses by nationally acclaimed architects including Peter Bohlin, Takashi Yanai, Chad Oppenheim, and Charles Gwathmey, as well as Aspen-based firms CCY and Rowland & Broughton. Interviews with the house owners and designers offer an insider’s perspective on this special place.

With a striking design evoking Aspen’s modernist heritage and authoritative text, Private Aspen captures the connection between these remarkable houses and the environment that surrounds them.

Helen Thompson is a nationally known writer on interior design and architecture. She is the author of highly successful trio Marfa Modern (2016), Texas Made/Texas Modern (2018), and Santa Fe Modern (2021) and a contributor to Hocker 2005-2020 Landscapes (2020), all published by Monacelli. She lives in Santa Fe, NM.

David Marlow is an acclaimed architecture and interiors photographer and a contributing photographer to Architectural Digest.