Say Om to This Home: $8.8M Colorado Mansion Designed for a Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Master

A five-bedroom home originally designed for a Tibetan Buddhist meditation master has hit the market in Boulder, CO, for $8.8 million.

The peaceful property was built in 1978 for Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the founder of the Boulder-based Naropa University. Rinpoche died in 1987.

The 5,267-square-foot Mapleton Hill estate is a “Japanese post-and-beam house, and we wanted to honor the original intent, so we kept the original woodworking and updated everything else,” says owner and listing agent John Canova of Compass.

“The overall architecture has been kept the same. My wife and I would always look at this house and say, ‘What a cool project it would be to renovate it.’ We specialize in finding super unique properties and create incredible spaces,” says Canova. “We have owned it for about a year and a half.”

Deluxe domicile

Canova bought the home in May 2021 for $524 per square foot. He’s looking to more than triple his investment if he gets anywhere near his $1,671 per square foot asking price.

The 1970s construction now sports upscale finishes.

For example, the kitchen features Gaggenau appliances and bronze metal cabinets.

“There are also Taj Mahal quartzite countertops,” he says. “All of the [cocoon bathrooms by Piet Boon] were shipped in from Holland with copper finishes. It’s really unique.”

The bright primary suite is surrounded by windows and glass doors that open to a private balcony. The bathroom features imported Japanese tile and a tadelakt shower.

Spiritual spaces

The striking architectural design, with its walls of windows, provides plenty of private spaces for deep meditation.

“It was originally built for the meditation master, and then a Dutch painter purchased it, and the last owner was the founder of Gaiam yoga,” Canova says.

The half-acre wooded lot is tucked away on a private sanctuary near the Mapleton Hill Historic District. Offering views of Red Rocks and the Foothills, the property also features lush gardens, a tranquil path, and a creek running behind the house.

“There are a lot of deciduous trees, so it is really a unique environment,” he says. “The backyard is very secluded, so you get the feeling like living in a treehouse, yet you are very close to downtown Boulder and you can walk to some great restaurants. There is also a saltwater swimming pool and a cedar hot tub. It’s like being at a wellness retreat, but you’re home.”

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