Gravity-Defying Colorado Mansion Designed by a Rocket Scientist Hits the Market for $2.7 Million

A striking midcentury modern-inspired dwelling in Colorado is drawing major attention thanks to its bold design and the revered mind behind it.

Recently listed for $2.7 million, the property at 9398 Ute Drive is the architectural brainchild of aerospace-engineer-turned-designer Daryl Maus, who also owns the property and represents it as the listing agent. 

Maus combined his scientific expertise and incredible design talent to create a home that appears to defy gravity, jutting out over its hilltop perch, creating the illusion that it is about to topple down the slope in front of it.

While the design presents a striking visual, there was a very practical reason for it. The 5,000-square-foot abode not only makes a statement, it also does what many mountain homes can't: offer easy livability, even in a rocky, sloped setting.

"The site informed the design—and challenged it," says Maus, a former rocket scientist whose spacecraft inventions now sit in the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

After ending his aerospace engineering career, Maus turned to architecture as his "second act," however he never gave up the innovative thinking that helped him to become one of the foremost experts in his former field.

Most mountain homes require steep, icy winter drives, a reality Maus wanted to eliminate. By positioning the garage and front entry directly at the street, he removed the need for a driveway entirely.

But bringing all of the primary public spaces to that same level of the property created a puzzle of its own: the upper floor alone spans nearly 3,000 square feet. 

Instead of cutting a deep bench into the hillside—what he calls the “typical bad solution”—Maus designed a sloped, steel-and-concrete pedestal that allows the home’s great room to extend out 37 feet over the landscape below. 

“As you build out from the slope, the ground falls away quickly,” he explains. “Without the pedestal, the home would need to be five stories tall.” The result is a floating form that appears to rise above the forest canopy. “There’s no other home like it that I know of,” he says.

Inside, the upper level unfolds as one expansive living and entertaining space. A gourmet kitchen with a waterfall island, an open dining zone, and both media and lounge areas sit alongside a foyer with elevator access.

Around a central stairwell with custom display cabinetry, the layout flows in a warm midcentury modern design. The elevator services every floor, and the home’s heating and cooling system includes both radiant in-floor and in-ceiling settings.

The primary suite is its own private mountainside sanctuary, complete with a hanging deck sheltered beneath the cantilever above. Two secondary bedrooms share the same outward-sloped windows found throughout the lower levels—one of Maus’ favorite design elements.

“These expansive windows draw your eyes out and powerfully couple the viewer to the landscape,” he says.

A cozy mezzanine library and laundry room round out the offerings on this level. 

On the lowest floor, an industrial-modern gallery, lounge, and game space are defined by exposed steel and concrete. A two-story atrium floods these spaces with natural light, while an adjacent patio offers a manicured outdoor retreat.

There’s also a sprawling flex room suitable for a gym, office, or studio, as well as a large storage suite, a finished mechanical room, and a guest wing with its own private bath and patio.

Even the construction required inventive solutions. Maus designed a custom hanging scaffold and trolley system to reach the underside of the cantilevered facade during the build—an engineering problem he tackled with the same creativity that fueled his aerospace career.

Despite its drama, the property remains surprisingly convenient, a mere 15 minutes to Boulder or Golden, and about 25 minutes to Denver. Trailheads and open space lie just beyond the door, making the home feel at once remote and remarkably accessible.