726 Pine Street - Landmarks of the Future
Sep 2nd, 2008 by contributor
Continuing on the 2008 Landmarks of the Future Tour: Architects at Home, we introduce Len Segel’s house at 726 Pine Street:
Historic preservation strongly shaped the design of this architect’s home. The one story bungalow-style house, originally built in 1951, featured some watered-down aspects of the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright. In 1995 the building was expanded to meet the needs of the architect’s growing family. Since it is located in the Mapleton Hill Historic District, the remodel had to fit into the neighborhood of older Victorians. At the same time the family wanted to express the post-World War II origins of the house and the spirit of the new millennium we now have entered. The exterior design expands on Wright’s influences – the low hipped roofs, the broad overhangs, the the masonry base, and a horizontally accentuating shingled upper story. Contemporary elements include corrugated metal eaves, harlequin patterning in the shingles and the iron rails and posts. The stone veneer base, an expanded front porch and the patterned shingles are a nod to the older neighborhood historic influences.
Another goal for the house was to build with the environment in mind. The addition of 900 square feet is less than allowed by city zoning and was achieved with a second-floor addition that does not encroach into the yard, keeping the footprint small and the yard open. All the brick is either reconfigured from the original home or is used brick from a yard in Denver. The base stone was mined locally in Lyons, and the metals are all highly recycled material. The interior design continues the intent of being energy conscious. The south side of the home opens to the sunlight with large window areas. Existing wood floors were “discovered” under a layer of carpet and reused. The other hard floor surfaces are linoleum, a natural product with no petrochemicals. All new walls are framed with metal studs. Wall and ceiling surfaces are finished with low VOC paints. A high-energy furnace and a programmable system reduce energy usage.
Another significant design driver was for an interior that expresses the contemporary attitudes of the family, clean-looking with simple finishes and few extraneous gestures. Materials and patterns used on the exterior are integrated into the the interior in refined ways. The house opens up equally to the front and the back yards, used by the family in differing ways. The flow of space continues inside in the main floor, a modified loft space. Furniture arrangements create a sense of living, dining and family rooms without the need for walls. The new upper floor has a garret-type feel, with vaulted ceilings. Other features include custom-designed furniture and special consideration for display of art and design collections.
Links:
505 Geneva Ave. - Landmarks of the Future
3076 7th Street - Landmarks of the Future
Historic Boulder
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