Denver’s Top 5 Architectural Styles

Denver is a beautiful city rich in history, cultural diversity and more than its share of natural beauty. But what really stands out with Denver, perhaps more than anything else, is the variety of architecture which can be found in this great city. This applies both to commercial and historical architecture, but where you can really feel the spirit and culture of a town is in its variety of home designs.

Today, I’d like to take a look at five of the more common styles seen in Denver, including one so unique and full of character that it bears the name of the town. Many of these will be styles seen in other locations throughout the United States, but they do paint a portrait of the history of Denver and the melting pot of people who make it truly great.

Victorian Homes

Victorian homes are one of those very distinct styles that seem to come and go in popularity in a fairly predictable wave. Their distinct profile makes them instantly-recognizable. The deep age of this design (though far from the oldest on this list) has made them a bit of a narrative shorthand for haunted houses in popular media for nearly a century.

This has faded in recent years, with a new generation of homeowners appreciating and embracing everything “retro” – and you can’t get much more retro in the US than 19th century architecture!

Victorians are deceptively spacious in spite of their low horizontal profile. They often have three or three and a half stories, though some are only two. A large attic will often also be present, being up to 2/3 the square footage of any given full floor.

Stained glass windows, ornate cornices and distinct cupulas are also common features of these quaint old homes. Challenges with these include building materials – if the home is a landmark, clapboard siding and shale roofing may be required, which can be costly to restore. Insulating can also be a challenge in these rambling houses.

Bungalows

Bungalows first became “common” in the 1920s, being something of “ranch but bigger”. Most people, when they hear the term “bungalow”, picture a tiny one-bedroom house or something like a free-standing loft or efficiency. This isn’t the case.

Bungalows are usually two or three-bedroom homes, usually one and a half stories tall. The half story may serve as one or more extra bedrooms, or simply be a partially-finished attic. Open floor plans are a hallmark of bungalows, with living spaces and kitchens often sharing a large, spacious area. One or two small hallways will branch off of this monolithic space, leading to bedrooms, bathrooms and access to the upper half-story.

These homes are clever in their ability to be both cozy and spacious at the same time, and are fantastic for young families.

Tudor Homes

There are pretty much no authentic Tudor houses in the United States, as this was a style of design employed commonly during the 16th century under the Tudor monarchies of England. However, the general aesthetic has been popular on and off for at least two centuries. Most were built in the 20th and 21st century.

Tudor homes, not unlike Victorian homes, have a distinct look to them, often featuring half-timbered exteriors. This is usually a type of stucco in modern times with walnut or oak beaming, mixed with red brick or “natural” stone siding for the bottom floor or around sides of the structure.

Steep roofs (sometimes even using gambrel roofs when architects are feeling quirky) are another hallmark of these. Their profiles are often either compact in the style of Victorian styles, with multiple stories, or rather wide front-facing profile. Tudors are one of the big influences on later designs, interior-wise, with a foyer (often containing stairs to higher stories), with closed off kitchens and living spaces. This became popular in French country homes, federalist styles and many modern floor plans later on.

Ranch

Ranch homes are all over the United States. These distinctive single-story homes dominate neighborhoods built in the early half of the 20th century, though they still continue to be built well into the 21st due to its practicality in design.

Ranches often have a simple but functional floor plan, with the front door opening into a living/family room, and two or three bedrooms accessed to one side. A closed kitchen is usually accessible to the opposite side, through which a connected garage can be accessed.

The biggest, and really only challenge with these very American homes are the fact they rarely have more than one bathroom, and often lack a mud room or laundry space.

Denver Square

Denver Square homes aren’t only found in Denver, but became so commonplace in the area that this nickname kind of stuck. In many places, they’re also known as “American Foursquares”, and they became a common design in the early 1900s. This was a direct result of the silver crash, and Victorian homes becoming far too costly for many to build and/or maintain.

At the time, they were considered “cheap” or “unrefined” designs, but sensibilities change, and these homes have some real character. Being very square shaped, as the name would indicate, they’re usually two stories, often with an additional half story or partially-finished attic space. 

Usually, they’re clad in red brick, though other materials have been known to be used. A generous porch usually adorns their front-facing side.

Floor plans can vary wildly with these, though a common approach has the front door opening to a small enclosed foyer with a two-flight staircase leading to the second floor, a first-floor bedroom accessible from one wall, and a living space from another. Through the living room, a dining room and kitchen are accessible. A small bathroom or half-bath may be on the first floor, though many have only one bathroom on the second floor, which consists of two, three or sometimes even four bedrooms with a central hallway separating them. 

These homes are excellent for larger families often enough, though like Victorians, authentic turn of the century Denver Squares can be a bit of a challenge with upkeep and heating in the winter months.

These are just some examples of the rich architecture which can be seen in Denver, and if you look more into the history of these styles and when/why they became popular, you can see what a robust history this city truly has to offer!