5280: Squared Off (6/2011)
1
30 | 5280.COM | JUNE 2011 Squared Off A guide to the Mile High City’s namesake home design. Drive around town and you can’t miss ’em. Denverites like to call the two-story, boxy, brick houses that line the streets of the Mile High City’s oldest neighborhoods “Denver Squares,” as if Denver were home to the design, but this simple yet elegant style is actually the American Foursquare. The home design was already popular in other parts of the country (usually made of wood) when Den- ver’s Grodavent Brothers published a plan for a brick version in 1895. Locals were so keen on the tweaked design that the Denver Square began popping up all over town—and hundreds are still around today. Here, Jim Bershof of Denver’s OZ Architecture gives us a tour of this local architectural staple. —SARAH RUMPLE Atmosphere Dwell The design emerged at the tail end of the elaborate Victorian era, when folks were yearning for a more livable, simple design. Bershof describes the style as “a box with a roof on it.” Ever wonder why so many Denver homes are made of brick, including Denver Squares? In 1863, a large fire destroyed much of downtown Denver. Shaken officials changed the city’s build- ing code to ensure all future buildings be con- structed of masonry. A front porch often stretches along the entire front of the house, in part so owners can partake in Denver’s best asset: sunshine. The roof is typically “hipped,” meaning it’s pointed like a pyramid. The overhanging eaves serve a functional purpose: keeping rain and snowmelt away from the exterior walls. Don’t be fooled: The ample front dormer is not usually a third floor. It simply allows light to filter into the attic. Denver Squares don’t have a lot of windows, but the ones they do have are huge and symmetrical. Originally, most Denver Squares had four main rooms on each floor (shown here): The kitchen, dining, family, and living rooms were on the first floor, while bedrooms and baths were on the second. Renovated versions often have a bathroom on the first floor and a built-out attic. ILLUSTRATION BY ARTHUR MOUNT Boxed Out Floor Plan Bricklayers Hip to be Square Decorative Dormer Watershed Light Bright Sun Spot BEDROOM BEDROOM BEDROOM BEDROOM BATH BATH OFFICE SECOND FLOOR FIRST FLOOR LIVING ROOM DINING ROOM KITCHEN COVERED PORCH FAMILY ROOM SCREENED PORCH FOYER } JUNE11_ATM_Dwell.indd 30 5/11/11 11:54 AM
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Transcript of 5280: Squared Off (6/2011)
30 | 5280.COM | JUNE 2011
Squared O� A guide to the Mile High City’s namesake home design.Drive around town and you can’t miss ’em. Denverites like to call the two-story, boxy, brick houses that line the streets of the Mile High City’s oldest neighborhoods “Denver Squares,” as if Denver were home to the design, but this simple yet elegant style is actually the American Foursquare. The home design was already popular in other parts of the country (usually made of wood) when Den-ver’s Grodavent Brothers published a plan for a brick version in 1895. Locals were so keen on the tweaked design that the Denver Square began popping up all over town—and hundreds are still around today. Here, Jim Bershof of Denver’s OZ Architecture gives us a tour of this local architectural staple. —SARAH RUMPLE
Atmosphere Dwell
The design emerged at the tail end of the elaborate Victorian era, when folks were yearning for a more livable, simple design. Bershof describes the style as “a box with a roof on it.”
Ever wonder why so many Denver homes are made of brick, including Denver Squares? In 1863, a large fire destroyed much of downtown Denver. Shaken o� icials changed the city’s build-ing code to ensure all future buildings be con-structed of masonry.
A front porch often stretches along the entire front of the house, in part so owners can partake in Denver’s best asset: sunshine.
The roof is typically “hipped,” meaning it’s
pointed like a pyramid.
The overhanging eaves serve a functional purpose:
keeping rain and snowmelt away from
the exterior walls.
Don’t be fooled: The ample front dormer is not usually
a third floor. It simply allows light to filter into the attic.
Denver Squares don’t have a lot of windows, but the
ones they do have are huge and symmetrical.
Originally, most Denver Squares had four main rooms on each floor (shown here): The kitchen, dining, family, and living rooms were on the first floor, while bedrooms and baths were on the second. Renovated versions often have a bathroom on
the first floor and a built-out attic.
ILLUSTRATION BY ARTHUR MOUNT
Boxed Out
Floor Plan
Bricklayers
Hip to be Square
Decorative Dormer
Watershed
Light Bright
Sun Spot
BEDROOM BEDROOM
BEDROOMBEDROOM
BATH BATH
OFF
ICE
SECOND FLOORFIRST FLOOR
LIVINGROOM
DININGROOM
KITCHEN
COVERED PORCH
FAMILYROOM
SCREENEDPORCH
FOYE
R
}JUNE11_ATM_Dwell.indd 30 5/11/11 11:54 AM
