Goldbranch Village and Goldbranch Estates: European-inspired luxury in Niwot
By Judy Finman
Life doesn’t get much better than this: a luxurious, custom-designed home at Goldbranch in Niwot.
Imagine a blue-sky Colorado morning. You pour a mug of java and step out of your gourmet kitchen into your private courtyard. You sip, relax, and bask in the glorious mountain view. Later you stroll on one of the scenic walking trails within the Goldbranch community. You wave to a neighbor practicing on one of three putting greens located in Goldbranch Village. In the evening, friends arrive for a leisurely dinner. You light your outdoor fireplace and watch the sun set behind the mountains. In this maintenance-free community, your yard work has been done for you. And, if you wish, the affiliated concierge service will arrange for a personal chef to prepare dinner. When you retire for the night, you rest easy, thanks to Goldbranch’s secure private enclave.
Goldbranch is the newest luxury residential development on Colorado’s Front Range and the last in the quaint town of Niwot. Located on a gently sloping hillside, it is a private community of 10 Village homes on half-acre lots, and seven custom Estates homes on one-acre lots. Goldbranch is unlike anything in the Boulder area – it combines the elements of fine living in one complete package.
“With the use of stone and stucco and boosted tile roofs, the Village will appear to be a Tuscan village,” says Deb Dribnak, sales manager. “Unique appointments afford each home its own distinct charm. Steven DeWitt, the architect, designed five basic concepts, and each house will be a variation of one of these designs. Village homes feature private courtyards with fountains, covered loggias and porte-cocheres, automated entry gates and many more elegant details. The Estates lots will feature more custom designs, but all will reflect the old-world European style of architecture – such as French country or Mediterranean style.”
Chief operating officer Ron Ibsen of Goldbranch Properties Corp., developers of Goldbranch, says, “This is a secure, luxurious enclave. The community enjoys spectacular views of the mountains. We have a spec – or show – home called Casa Siena that sets the stage. It is on the market and is almost finished. It has a rural theme inside, with beams and rustic woods. It captures the indoor/outdoor living so popular in Colorado. All rooms on the main floor open to a central courtyard. You can have your friends over to watch a CU or Broncos game, and have the TV and the cooking center under the covered loggia.”
He explains that the design guidelines follow old-world European styling. In The Village the stone is the same on all the houses, as it would be in Tuscany, where it would all come from the same quarry. The roof material, too, is the same on all the homes. “We want the Estate homes to blend and be harmonious with the Village; they are larger and carry out the old-world European design.”
The Goldbranch developers all live nearby – they are very hands-on, attentive to detail, and involved on a personal level. “We are all Boulder people developing this project; we are part of the fabric of the local community,” says Ibsen.
The Goldbranch Vision
Steven DeWitt is the architect who designed the 10 Goldbranch Village homes and the first Estate home. He is also building three of the homes in partnership with the developers. “Our vision for Goldbranch was to create a community based on the courtyard concept we all found charming in Italy. All the details, such as bubbling fountains, stone towers and rambling loggias, create the environment we are seeking.
“The developers’ vision was that Goldbranch would be a couple of levels higher than anything in Boulder County – more exclusive, more secure, something unique. They came up with a Tuscan vernacular theme. We are capturing this vision with the use of special details and materials gained from our own experience living and working in Italy and France. This enclave will be the last little jewel box in Niwot.”
He adds an environmental note: “Besides being beautiful and artistic dwellings, these will be energy conscious homes, with solar and geothermal options.”
This rural Mediterranean-style community will allow you to live your dream in the last undeveloped subdivision in Niwot. Prices start at $2 million.
Exemptions From New County Building Restrictions
Goldbranch is exempt from size limitations through August 2012, thereby allowing buyers to build whatever size home they desire.
With respect to BuildSmart, the County’s green building program, Goldbranch has several pre-BuildSmart builder plans available for immediate use, allowing buyers to build to their desired level of green.
Visit Goldbranch Estates
Visit the on-site Welcome Center Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Ask for a tour and take a look at the beautiful Casa Siena. For more information, call sales manager Deb Dribnak at 303.652.0510 or e-mail
sales@goldbranchestates.com, and enjoy the Web site, www.goldbranchestates.com.
Directions
From Boulder, take Foothills Parkway (157) North. This becomes the Diagonal Highway (119). Turn right onto Niwot Road and go east one mile. Turn right onto Longview Drive.
