2025 Highlights in Aspen Architecture, Luxury Homes & Interior Design
- Z Group Architecture & Interior Design
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
In 2025, Z Group celebrated a landmark year of growth, creativity, and connection. As Aspen’s longest-standing architecture firm, we continued to shape homes and communities through luxury residential design, placemaking, and sustainable design across Colorado — from the Roaring Fork Valley to Denver.
Project Highlights: Luxury Homes & Community Architecture in Aspen & Beyond
As a legacy firm in Colorado, 2025 marked a year of meaningful completions, design innovation, and continued dedication to luxury mountain living.
Among the year’s most celebrated projects was Ikigai,— a serene Aspen retreat inspired by the Japanese concept of “a reason for being.” Designed to evoke stillness and joy, the home was featured in Luxe Interiors + Design and praised as “a philosophy made tangible.” Every detail, from framed vistas to its earth-toned palette, was crafted in close collaboration with the client.
“Ikigai reminds us that true luxury is found not in excess, but in the quiet joy of intention realized.” — Seth Hmielowski, Senior Principal
Other standout homes — like Lazy Marmot, Woody Creek Ranch, and St. Finnbar Farm’s Lot 6, — reflected the unique character of each site and client lifestyle. We also reimagined a historic fishing cabin into a downtown Basalt office and brought clarity and function to Snowmass’ Elk Camp lift shack.
Across the street from our Basalt office, The Midland Residence at Basalt Center Circle broke ground — a modular, mixed-use development designed to serve the community while shaping the future of downtown. Watching this community-focused project take form is a rare and deeply gratifying experience—one that reaffirmed our belief in architecture as both placemaking and legacy-building.
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Nearby, the Gallery Building at Basalt River Park earned LEED certification, affirming our sustainability ethos.
Z Group also expanded along the Front Range with our first custom home in Denver’s Bow Mar neighborhood — a sign of our continued growth beyond Aspen into metro Denver and along the I-70 corridor, where demand for site-sensitive, legacy-minded architecture continues to rise.
Interior Design Highlights: Renovations, Retreats & Mountain Living
In 2025, the Z Group Interior Design team completed a series of thoughtful renovations and new builds at Chateau Roaring Fork, Dolomite, Independence Square, and The Enclave in Snowmass. Each project came with unique challenges, but our team delivered interiors that felt personal, intuitive, and grounded in the spirit of mountain living.
“The work was strong this year, without a doubt. But what really stuck with me was how the team approached it — with thoughtfulness, collaboration, and real care. That kind of consistency shows up in the work, and our culture.” — Scott McHale, Principal & Director of Design
From serene retreats to downtown condos and historic ranch transformations, our architecture and interior design teams brought care and collaboration to every space. These design renovations are homes reimagined to reflect the stories and lifestyles of the people who live in them.
Team Growth, Mentorship & New Leadership at Z Group
2025 moved fast — and so did our team of 21. This year marked meaningful milestones in leadership, mentorship, and collaboration.
Melanie Noonan was promoted to Associate, recognizing her steady leadership and care for clients and colleagues.
Brittany Biebl was named a Partner, a generational step forward in firm leadership.
Interns Ava and Sofia brought fresh perspectives during their summer with us, reaffirming our investment in mentorship and future-focused growth.
Our Moab team retreat became a turning point — a weekend of genuine connection and seamless collaboration. That momentum continued at industry events like the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, AIA conferences, and Luxe’s Interior + Design’s Colorado 100th Issue celebration, where Z Group remained part of the conversations shaping what’s next.
“Somewhere along the way this year, something just clicked. Things flowed, decisions came easier, and collaboration felt effortless. That kind of rhythm matters just as much as the design details.” — Scott McHale Principal & Director of Design
Z Group Design Awards & National Recognition in 2025
Our 2025 work captured the attention of both industry peers and national design media.
Luxe Interiors + Design featured Ikigai for its elegant restraint and emotional resonance.
Mountain Living named Z Group among the Top Mountain Architects of 2025, and Modern Luxury Aspen honored us on their Best Contemporary Design list.
Nationally, Urban Bonfire spotlighted our custom outdoor kitchens, while International Business Times and USA Today profiled us as leaders in sustainable, story-driven architecture. And right in Aspen’s core, Buck was named one of Modern Living’s Top 12 Bars, a testament to how design can shape energy and experience.
“It was a fast-paced year — definitely one of momentum. But through all of it, what stood out most was our people. They showed up for each other, and that’s what I’m most proud of.”— Seth Hmielowski, Senior Principal
Firm Culture, Community Impact & Events Across Colorado
In 2025, we were proud to support a wide range of community organizations, including:
The Art Base, through co-sponsorship of Jude Barton’s exhibition and their Annual 10x10 Gala - where two of our team members donated their art to auction
Aspen Hope Center, at the Paragon Golf Tournament and the Light the Way fundraiser
Roaring Fork Cycling
Blue Lake Preschools at The Art Campus at Willits’s Sip. Savor. Support. event
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies through sponsorship of the 2025 ACES Harvest Party
Bronze Sponsors of the Snowmass Wine Festival and Taste of Basalt supporting the Basalt Education Foundation
Carbondale Arts at the 14th Annual Carbondale Arts Fashion Show
Carbondale Mountain Fair, where we designed community shade structures
We also leaned into mentorship and financial literacy initiatives because we believe architecture’s real impact lies in the possibilities it creates for others.
And beyond the work, we showed up for each other — on camping trips, trivia nights, adventurous hikes, Aspen ski days, and rafting the Roaring Fork River. These moments are part of what makes the work possible.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Whether standing in the Moab desert with our team or watching The Midland Residences rise across the street, 2025 reminded us what matters most: presence, people, and purpose.
If we had to choose one word to define the year, it would be momentum — not just in output, but in clarity. We moved fast, stayed grounded, and deepened our story along the way.
As we enter 2026, our role as trusted design partners has never felt more clear. Our clients come to us for our 70+ years of experience, perspective, stewardship, and a design process rooted in care.
“We took on a lot this year, and what I kept noticing — again and again — was how people stepped up. There was real trust, shared ownership, and a quiet pride in what we were building together.” — Brittany Biebl, Partner & Director of Operations
Let’s Design What’s Next — Together
Z Group creates story-driven, site-sensitive architecture and interior design for residential, commercial, institutional, and placemaking clients across Aspen, Snowmass, the Western Slope, and Denver.
From luxury mountain homes to sustainable mixed-use developments, our Colorado-based team designs with legacy, lifestyle, and longevity in mind.
Whether you’re envisioning a mountain retreat, reimagining an urban property, or crafting a generational estate, we bring more than expertise — we bring empathy, clarity, and a deep respect for place.
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