Rooted in the Roaring Fork Valley: Z Group at the 2026 ACES Harvest Party
Fall in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley brings us back to what matters: a deep connection to the landscape, environmental stewardship, and the community we share.
As a proud sponsor of the 2026 Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) Annual Harvest Party, Z Group Architecture & Interior Design joined neighbors from across the Roaring Fork Valley on October 4 at Rock Bottom Ranch near Basalt, Colorado. Set amid pastures, gardens, cottonwoods, and mountain views, the annual celebration brought together families for pumpkin carving, hayride farm tours, vegetable harvesting, apple cider pressing, ranch activities, and live music.
Celebrating a Place Worth Caring For
Rock Bottom Ranch is more than a beautiful setting for a fall gathering. The 113-acre wildlife preserve and educational ranch serves as ACES’ mid-valley hub for environmental education, wildlands preservation, and sustainable agriculture. Located between the Roaring Fork River and the Crown of Mount Sopris, the property brings agriculture, education, habitat, and community together in one landscape.
Those values resonate deeply with Z Group.
Since 1952, our work as Aspen architects and interior designers has been shaped by an enduring belief that thoughtful design begins with understanding place. We strive to create architecture that lives in harmony with the landscape—responding not only to views and materials, but to the ecological and cultural character that makes the Western Slope distinctive.
Community Is Part of the Landscape
The Harvest Party offered a chance to experience that connection beyond the office: gathering with friends and neighbors, watching children dig into the soil, riding through the ranch, listening to live music, and celebrating another Colorado growing season.
ACES’ larger mission is “educating for environmental responsibility,” with programming throughout the Roaring Fork Valley focused on areas including ecological literacy, regenerative agriculture, ecosystem health, land restoration, and environmental leadership. For Z Group, supporting organizations and experiences that strengthen this relationship between people and place is a natural extension of how we think about design.
Katie Hmielowski’s son enjoys a Harvest Party hayride. Katie Hmielowski’s sons celebrate fall at the ACES Harvest Party.
Our roots in Aspen span more than seven decades, but that legacy is ultimately about more than longevity. It is about participating in the life of this valley—and helping preserve what makes it extraordinary for the generations who come next.
Design Rooted in Place. Built for Legacy.
Our connection to the Mountain West shapes how we design. For more than 70 years, Z Group has created architecture and interior design that respond to the land, reflect the people who inhabit them, and contribute thoughtfully to the places we call home.
Explore what’s possible:
Your Journey. Your Story. Your Legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the ACES Harvest Party in the Roaring Fork Valley?
The annual ACES Harvest Party is a community celebration hosted by the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) at Rock Bottom Ranch near Basalt, Colorado. The event brings families and neighbors together around agriculture, environmental education, seasonal activities, and the landscapes of the Roaring Fork Valley.
Where is Rock Bottom Ranch?
Rock Bottom Ranch is a 113-acre wildlife preserve and educational ranch near Basalt, Colorado, located between the Roaring Fork River and the Crown of Mount Sopris. It serves as ACES’ mid-valley hub for environmental education, wildlands preservation, and sustainable agriculture.
Why does Z Group support organizations like ACES?
Z Group believes that caring for the places where we live and design extends beyond architecture. Supporting organizations and community experiences that strengthen connections among people, landscape, education, and environmental stewardship reflects the same respect for place that informs Z Group’s work throughout Aspen, the Roaring Fork Valley, and the Mountain West.
How does the Roaring Fork Valley influence Z Group’s architecture and interior design?
Since 1952, Z Group’s work as Aspen architects and interior designers has been shaped by the landscape and culture of the Roaring Fork Valley. The firm approaches architecture and interior design with an understanding of place, creating spaces that respond to the land, local character, natural materials, and the ways people experience their surroundings.
What does site-sensitive architecture mean to Z Group?
For Z Group, site-sensitive architecture begins with understanding the character of a place before designing within it. That means considering the landscape, views, ecology, materials, cultural context, and human experience to create architecture that feels connected to its surroundings rather than imposed upon them.
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