Freestyle Architects is an architecture firm that combines a passion for enduring beauty with a deep understanding of high-performance building design. Our inspiration is our breathtaking mountain landscape, and our mission is to design spaces that deepen your connection to it.
Founded in Crested Butte in 2008, we offer extensive experience in residential and commercial projects in Crested Butte, the Gunnison Valley and communities throughout the Rocky Mountain West. We specialize in custom home design. As a small family business with two registered architects, all of our work is done in our downtown Crested Butte office.
We have lived and worked in Crested Butte for many years, raised our family here, and are deeply invested in the community. We enjoy hiking, biking, nordic and alpine skiing, making art and most of all spending time with our family and friends. We are proud of the projects we’ve designed and the lasting relationships we’ve built with our clients. We are always looking forward to the next creative design challenge and the interesting people we will meet in the process.
Jim Barney
Education:
Masters of Architecture, University of Colorado Denver 2002
Licensed Architect in Colorado since 2008
LEED Accredited Professional
Jim was born and raised in Colorado. Having spent an abundant amount of time in the outdoors, Jim appreciates architecture that unifies the built world with the natural landscape. Prior to training as an architect, Jim was a builder in Crested Butte. His ever evolving expertise in methods of construction allow him to design efficiently. Easygoing and flexible by nature, Jim has a hands-on, team-building approach that ensures both a smooth process and a successful result.
Karen Barney
Education:
Masters of Architecture, University of Colorado Denver 2001
Licensed Architect in Colorado since 2008
LEED Accredited Professional
A native of Virginia, Karen was drawn to the mountains and moved to Colorado in 1998 to study architecture. To her, architecture lies at the intersection of creativity and problem solving. A keen eye for composition and a strong emphasis on fundamental design elements such as mass, scale and proportion ensure integration of buildings into their place. Resourceful and articulate, Karen has an ability to synthesize ideas into unique and beautiful forms.
