Modern Mountain Retreat Marries Minimalism and Nature

An architect transforms his parents’ Colorado cabin into a serene, modern home that honors landscape, light, and legacy

Perched high in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, near the remote town of Montezuma, a once-traditional cabin has been reborn as a masterclass in restraint and reverence for nature. At 10,600 feet above sea level, this dramatic transformation is more than just architectural - it’s personal. Gabriel Yuri, founder of design agency New Operations Workshop, was entrusted by his parents, Mitch and Linda Bollag, to reimagine their mountain home in a way that would reflect their values and deepen their connection to the wilderness surrounding them.

Perched high in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, a once-traditional cabin has been reborn as a masterclass in restraint and reverence for nature, Image: Bruce Damonte

Rather than tearing down the existing structure, Gabriel preserved its original geometry, using it as a canvas to create something wholly contemporary. The house is now defined by its quiet elegance, drawing from Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian simplicity. “We wanted to design something that wouldn’t compete with the landscape,” Gabriel explains. “It had to feel like an extension of it.”

interiors

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Rather than tearing down the existing structure, Gabriel preserved its original geometry, Image: Bruce Damonte

Outside, the dark charred-wood cladding - Shou Sugi Ban from Nakamoto Forestry - blends seamlessly into the pine-dotted hills, offering fire resistance and a bold yet understated exterior. Inside, pale white oak sourced from Dinesen floods every surface, capturing and amplifying the region’s crisp natural light. The contrast creates a dialogue between warmth and shelter, and rugged, raw terrain.

Outside, the dark charred-wood cladding blends seamlessly into the pine-dotted hills, Image: Bruce Damonte

Built-in furniture - including beds, seating, and desks - was crafted from the same white oak, maximising spatial efficiency and reinforcing the minimalist ethos. Wide operable glass walls and pivot doors allow the home to breathe with the seasons, opening fully to summer breezes or buttoning up against snowy winter silence. Slate flagstone floors continue outdoors, extending the visual and physical flow between interior and exterior.

Wide operable glass walls and pivot doors allow the home to breathe with the seasons, Image: Bruce Damonte

A modular layout, enhanced by moving walls and sectional living zones, offers versatility. A central fireplace anchors the open plan, dividing it into intimate and communal spaces.

A central fireplace anchors the open plan, Image: Bruce Damonte

The house grew in size too - two new bedrooms, a bathroom, and expanded living areas add 1,500 square feet to the original footprint, creating room for visiting family and friends without sacrificing serenity.

Despite the logistical challenges posed by its remote location and limited building season, the project was executed with surgical precision. Gabriel prioritised local materials and adaptive design, conscious of both sustainability and the changing climate. Southern-facing glazing and strategically placed skylights invite passive solar gain and frame awe-inspiring views of surrounding peaks, streams, and a private waterfall.

They wanted to create room for visiting family and friends without sacrificing serenity: Image: Bruce Damonte

For Mitch and Linda, the home is the fulfillment of a long-held dream. Former New Yorkers who embraced Colorado life in the 1970s, the couple built a business and a life shaped by purpose, nature, and global impact. Now founders of the Bollag Family Foundation, their legacy extends beyond architecture into peacebuilding, humanitarian work, and the arts.

This modern mountain home is more than just a beautiful retreat - it’s a reflection of a family’s values and a son's vision, rooted in love, land, and light.