An Annabelle Selldorf-Designed Mountain Estate at Auction

Annabelle Selldorf, the German-born architect, is well known in the art world for her ultra-modern designs of museums and art galleries, including the new Rubell Museum in Miami, the Neue Galerie in New York, and spaces for Hauser & Wirth, David Zwirner and Acquavella. Despite her many public designs, her designs for private residences are relatively rare. Now, one of her largest homes, Walden House in Vail, Colorado, is coming up for auction this August.

Walden House overlooking the pond inspired by Thoreau's Walden Pond. Image: Concierge Auctions

The contemporary estate is tucked into the picturesque Vail Valley, and its design was inspired by Massachusetts' Walden Pond memorialized in Henry David Thoreau's celebrated book Walden, a 19th-century treatise that celebrates living in nature. The façade of Walden House almost blends into dramatic surroundings, featuring a coterie of earth-toned materials such as rock, natural metals and woods, which are combined with soaring floor-to-ceiling glass windows to maximize the panoramic views.

I wanted the house to be situated in such a way to strengthen the connections between inside and outside, the built world and the natural world, as much as possible.

The living room offers panoramic views of the pond and the Rocky Mountains. Image: Concierge Auctions

A sophisticated take on the traditional ranch-style house, Selldorf organized the main living spaces around a lush central courtyard, so that the emphasis was always on nature and the outdoors. She also added a three-story tower connected to the house so the three main bedrooms are promised magnificent views from all angles. The house is spread over 10,000 square feet and has seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms in total.

The dining room. Image: Concierge Auctions

Walden House's main living spaces, including the great room and the dining room, overlook the property's pièce de résistance: a large mirror-like pond framed by the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Although the pond seems natural to the landscape, it was man-made by famed landscaper Edwina von Gal and features a small boat pavilion for paddle-boating on the pond.

The pool at dusk. Image: Concierge Auctions

The 70-acre estate includes a separate gym, pool and miles of picturesque hiking trails. Within a short 20-minute drive are the famed Vail and Beaver Creek ski resorts.

Walden House is surrounded by the dramatic beauty of Vail, Colorado. Image: Concierge Auctions

Walden House will be auctioned by Concierge Auctions between August 29-31 and is also currently on the market for $29 million. A work of art in itself, Walden House offers a rare opportunity to own a design by one of the world's leading architects, while immersed in the beauty of the Colorado mountains.

Find more articles on Barnebys Magazine

About the author

Kira Reinke

Kira Reinke is the U.S. Editor at Barnebys Magazine. She majored in English and Art History at St. Olaf College and has a masters degree in Journalism from Columbia University. Prior to working at Barnebys, she worked in editorial at a travel agency. Her interests focus on fine art, design, and fashion on the auction market, and she enjoys attending auction previews, museum exhibits, and gallery openings in New York.