The Berman Buckskin Ranch
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Client: Berman Buckskin Ranch
Location: Telluride, CO
Date: 1998 – 2002
The Berman Buckskin Ranch is the finest horse ranch in the Telluride area. Encompassing 1600 acres overlooking the red rock rimmed canyons west of town, the Ranch enjoys 360-degree views of the region’s peaks across sweeping meadows. The owner purchased the initial parcels with the existing 11,000 SF ranch house with the goal to create a complete horse and mountain recreation retreat. The planning by Eric Brandt Architect began immediately.
The new Equestrian Facility is the working center of the ranch, the facility includes 22 large stalls with individual outdoor runs, a heated indoor arena, a complete veterinarian station, the wrangler quarters, a paneled staff office, and, in the loft, a fabulous lounge with an arena viewing platform. All woods for flooring, cabinets, doors and casework were milled and shaped on site from antique beams.
The new Ranch Manager’s Home settles on one of the most dramatic sites within the ranch. This is the initial development on a 35 acre parcel within the ranch, so the home was designed to allow for a potential, future main home to take center stage. From this notion, the resulting character and shapes of the house suggest a collection of classic ranch outbuildings. This is the “barn and sheds” of a main house to be. The shed shapes allow the home to follow the contours of the windswept meadow. The design is Colorado Rustic meets Prairie Style. The home literally roots into the rocky site. The shape of the roofs follows the
slope of the landscape. Decks and porches are positioned to collect the sun and deflect the wind.The sweeping views framed by the large windows are truly grand. Exterior materials follow the ranch standard. They are designed to harmonize the ranches’ secondary buildings with the land and each other. The siding is richly stained spruce and pine from regional mills. Rusting steel is used on the roof and as wall highlights. And the fireplace stone is a collection of Western sandstones.
The Ranch House Renovations include the entry porch addition, a billiards room addition, the spa addition, art room additions, extensive timber frame elements for the windows, and stone veneer accents.
The Bunkhouse is the residence of the horse trainer of the ranches’ Buckskin Paso Finos. Centrally located and adjacent to the Equestrian Center, the Bunkhouse is a traditional Craftsman or Bungalow Design. Detailing, however, displays a more modern use of timberwork.
Estate developments planned and designed by Eric Brandt Architect include the Managers’ House, The Horse Trainers’ Bunkhouse, The 32,000 SF Equestrian Facility with separate storage buildings, pens and arenas; improvements and additions to the 11,000 SF Ranch House, A 7-car “Equipment Shed” and land planning for the 7-lot subdivision and conservation easement for the original 1,000 acre ranch.