On this day, in 1954 . . .
This ad ran in the Denver Post, introducing the new “3-D Contemporary” that H. B. Wolff & Co. were building in their new development, Krisana Park (named as a combination of names of the former land owners of the Krisana Park tract - Christian & Anan Noe). The design, by architect Frenchie Gratts of Gratts & Warner, is based very heavily on Jones & Emmons’ designs for Joseph Eichler in California, leading many mid-mod aficionados in Denver to refer to these as “like-lers” through the years.
Wolff offered a single 3-bedroom, 2-bath floor plan, featuring an ensuite bathroom in the primary bedroom - something that would have been considered rare and luxurious in 1954. By developing 6 different elevations for the homes, including two that are turned 90° in relation to the street, Gratts created a streetscape with a great deal of variety, offering no indication that they were all basically the same home.
Wolff first introduced the idea of the “3-D Contemporary” earlier in 1954 by building a demonstration home at the Denver Home Show, also designed by Gratts. That demonstration home was quite different from what was actually built in Krisana Park, with the most notable difference being a center-hall floorplan in the Home Show 3-D Contemporary vs. the L-shape floor plan in Krisana.
The floor plan that H. B. Wolff presented at the Denver Home Show in May of 1954.
The floor plan that was ultimately built for all of the homes in Krisana Park, with some architectural variation, depending on which of the 6 elevations were chosen.
During the Home Show, Wolff & Gratts talked about the defining features of the 3-D Contemporary in an article written by Denver Post staff writer Harmon Kallman:
Here are some of the 3D Contemporary’s Basic Design Features:
- Post and beam construction with the outer walls furnishing the only support needed for the low pitched roof, allowing extensive use of glass and eliminations of costly but useless trim cornices and molding. Exposed redwood ceiling beams add spaciousness and beauty.
- Wide roof overhang, meaning cooler summer temperatures and little sun glare, saving drapes and louvers.
- Bringing the outdoors in through the all glass wall at the rear of the livingroom—which opens directly on the big patio by way of a sliding glass door in the glass wall. Yet no privacy is sacrificed because of orientation to the lot and enclosure of the patio.
- Vertical redwood siding, attractive and easy to maintain.
- Phillipine mahogany interior paneling, rubbed and polished to a variety of colors.
Ultimately, Wolff would build 170 3-D Contemporary homes in Krisana Park - selling out in only a year or so. With demand continuing after all of the lots were sold, Wolff began work on a follow-up neighborhood a few blocks away called “Lynwood.” He used four remaining lots in Krisana Park to construct a set of Lynwood preview models, which they would open for a week in a special event in the fall of 1955.
Like virtually all mid-century modern neighborhoods in the Denver area, Krisana Park has had its ups and downs through the years, and at present, it is one of the most sought-after places to own a mid-century modern home, with many homes selling for over $1M in recent years.
In order to help protect its architectural character, neighborhood residents worked to establish, and enthusiastically supported, the creations of a “conservation overlay,” which is a special zoning designation that alter’s the city’s standard zoning code to both add restrictions to building form, and to allow setbacks that would not otherwise be permitted. The most notable change was to prevent second-story “pop-up” additions.
While most homeowners in Krisana Park see this overlay as an advantage, it is an important element to be aware of when buying in the Krisana Park neighborhood, and you should discuss these restrictions in detail with your real estate agent. If you don’t yet have an agent, and and interested in buying a mid-century home in Krisana Park, or any other Denver area mid-century neighborhood, let’s talk about the professional guidance that I can provide you as your agent that goes well beyond just finding you a home.
To learn more about Krisana Park’s history and design, download the Krisana Park Pattern Book that was put together by Historic Denver and the CU College of Architecture and Planning Center of Preservation Research to use as a guide for Krisana Park residents as they contemplate restoration or renovation of their historic home.