Project Description
Every lovely old neighborhood has an eyesore, and this 1926 Denver
home had been sufficiently neglected and insensitively expanded to fit
the bill. “Its original character was long since obliterated,” said
architect Doug Walter. The judges wondered about the philosophy of
“applying a separate style to a blank slate” but quickly concurred that
the changes were contextual with the neighborhood. Overall, they said,
this “under-detailed” house became “1,000 times better.”
Largely an exterior renovation, the project was inspired by
neighboring structures including a 1903 Spanish gate (shown). The new
Mediterranean villa features a tile roof, broad overhanging eaves, and
classically paired windows flanked by carefully sized new shutters. The
old roof was literally cut off, replaced by a new trussed roof, and an
elegant new porch welcomes guests.
The project includes a small addition, yet the home’s mass is more
human-scale, particularly on its long north side, thanks to roofs
introduced to “layer” the façade.