I’d like to think that if the lessons from Frank Lloyd Wright were properly assimilated, we would all be living in such unique, architecturely satisfying abodes. . .
Of course, these designs are not Wright, but mostly the vision of
Denver’s Edward Hawkins
Beautiful Arapahoe Acres in Englewood, Colorado.
An outstanding example of diverse modern architecture from the 40s and 50s.
One-of-a-kind McDonalds in downtown-Denver. This building was obviously repurposed from another use. If you know, can you leave a comment?
Or even guess, if you like?
Inside, McDonalds did not take advantage of the high ceiling and the windows that go with it, but clearly, there is no other McDonalds that looks like this!
Vertical panelled walls that extend maybe 20 feet high topped with
6 foot high windows and an accordion-fold roof. With a row of basement
windows below. The scale seems gloriously oversized.
What was this place originally? Help me out, Denverites!
The Mile High Tower, the last remainder of world renowned master
architect I.M. Pei’s 1956 creation, the Mile High Center. The glass
and metal design is in a style referred to as Miesian, from the name of
architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
Mile High Tower formerly opened to a plaza on the east side, which
included a pool covered with a hyperbolic arch. The plaza is gone
and now the building seems lost as part of the Norwest Plaza.
Another famous Colorado loss of I.M. Pei design was the hyperbolic paraboloid roof of the pavilion at Zeckendorf Plaza (now Adam’s Mark Hotel).
Some of I.M. Pei’s work in Colorado survives, such as the 16th Street Mall in Denver and the outstanding N.C.A.R. building in Boulder.
The photo above shows the Amoco Tower reflected in the glass.
The black and white aluminum panels interweave to form a unique
pattern. Lights pointing upward highlight the verticals.
Denver’s Botanic Garden’s, the city’s most well-known set of Usonian structures.
The Boettcher Memorial Conservatory, 1966 by Victor Hornbein and Ed White Jr. This amazing plexiglass and concrete ribbed building is 51 feet high engineering marvel built on the principle of the inverted catenary curve!
The master plan for the gardens was layed out by landscape architect Garrett Eckbo and now features over 30 themed gardens by world famed garden designers.
These distinctive light concrete light fixtures made an appearance in Woody Allen’s science fiction film Sleeper, from 1973.
Victor Hornbein included many abstracted floral designs in his building, including these in the entry to the Memorial Conservatory.
The organic poured concrete designs continue through to the interior, which is lit with indirecting lighting.
More floral abstracts of stained glass and wood. . .
A beautiful interior fountain of the same unified organic design of poured concrete and pink block.
A beautiful Usonian-style design, the Dammann House, 1966 by famed Boulder architect, Charles Haertling
This wild butterfly roof home was designed by Hobart Wagener, 1957
This house has had very little modification, and seems to currently be under restoration!
Great news, as it sits on a large piece of prime Boulder real-estate, so there was concern that it would be scraped!
Another Charles Haertling, the Willard House from 1961. You can see some of the unfortunate, controversial construction placed far too close to this treasured house.
This construction has stopped, but it is a shame to see the hillside destroyed, especially after such careful, thoughtful placement of the Haertling structure.
This incredible building seems to go beyond Usonia. It is mind boggling to think how such an intricate design could have ever been committed to paper!
The Ross-Broadway Library, Usonian design by Victor Hornbein, 1951
Victor Hornbein was Denver’s premiere Usonian architect
It is unusual to see Usonian-style libraries. This one was designed very much in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright.
This library was saved from destruction by dedicated preservationists
The designs for the window framework are fascinating, the doors have similar designs.
Eaves painted white. . .
Hornbein’s most famous surviving work is Denver’s Botanical Gardens
The ruins of the Crest House, atop Mt. Evans, Colorado. Built 1941.
Art Moderne-style design by Denver architect Edwin Francis.
Situated at 14,420 feet above sea level, this was once the highest
structure in the world!
Mt. Evans is the only Fourteener in Colorado with a paved road that allows you to drive to the top. The Mt. Evans Highway is the highest paved road in North America.
A propane tank exploded, decimating the beautiful structure with fire in 1979!
My wife Shannon, remembers watching the Crest House burn from her parent’s home in nearby Evergreen, CO.
There has been talk of restoration. If they ever do, I hope they retain Edwin Francis’ original design!
I scanned this from a postcard to show the original star shaped window fenestration. This looked incredibly futuristic for 1941!
Construction actually started in 1939, but there is limited seasonal
access to the road due to snow.
The drive on the uppermost switchbacks is often interrupted by Mt Evans’ famous herd of mountain goats, here molting for the summer.
On one Mt. Evans visit, I saw mountain goats perched on the very tops of the Crest House archs, peering out toward Denver. I wish I had a camera with me that day!
The tops of all Fourteeners in this area are covered with craggy rocks. The design of the Crest House sits so naturally among these rocks, that it appears to belong here.
Sad views of the decimation. . .
The main star-shaped room currently serves as an open-air observation deck.
At 14,000 feet, you are level with the clouds.
Edwin Francis also designed this American Red Cross building in 1951, located alongside Speer Avenue in Denver. I will be posting more photos of this wonderful red sandstone structure in the near future.
Crest House, Mt. Evans, CO.
