Colorado Architecture #2; Arapahoe Acres

Driving through Arapahoe Acres in Denver Colorado is like driving into the past, a seemingly secret neighborhood, untouched by time...an absolute thrill is you appreciate architecture.  It is the only neighborhood in the country to be listed as a Historic District, by the National Register of Historic Places, since post WWII.  The neighborhood is located approximately fifteen minutes South of I-25, near Hampden and University Blvd.  It is a quiet area, yet only a short drive to Downtown Denver. 

There are 124 homes in the neighborhood, built between 1949-1957, and typically no larger than 2,000 square feet.  To fully appreciate the homes in the area, I highly recommend viewing some or all of the 32 listed at the Arapahoe Acres website.  The homes in the neighborhood represent two styles of architecture, Usonian Style and International Style.  The Usonian Style, developed by Frank Lloyd Wright, designed kitchen and living areas to be flowing and the bedrooms and bathrooms were designed for privacy and quiet.  The roofs have shallow pitches, with no attic spaces, and there are no basements, as a means of controlling costs in a post-depression era.  The entrances are often set-back or hidden for privacy.  The International Style, associated with Modernism, was largely influenced by the Bauhaus School in Germany (shut down by the Nazi regime).  The International Style is defined by a buildings use of volume, symmetry, and applied ornament. Each home is a rare work of art, located in a unique neighborhood, not duplicated in Colorado.

See pictures of homes in Arapahoe Acres (Denver, Colorado):  http://www.flickr.com/photos/stefanmax/sets/72157622670120460/


Stefan Geyer
ECO Broker| Denver Realtor|Certified Appraiser
www.StefanMax.com