A-Frame Architecture in Boulder County
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Historic Context of A-frame Architecture in Boulder County Prepared for Boulder County Land Use Department Prepared by and www.meadhunt.com April 2018 CLG Grant Number CO-17-011 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Table of Contents Table of Contents Page 1. Introduction ......................................................................................... 1 2. Project Area ......................................................................................... 3 3. Research Design and Methods .......................................................... 5 4. A-frame Architecture on a National Stage ........................................ 9 A. Historic antecedents ................................................................... 9 (1) Asian and Polynesian forms ............................................. 9 (2) European forms ................................................................ 9 (3) American forms .............................................................. 11 B. Vacation homes ........................................................................ 12 (1) Prewar vacation homes .................................................. 12 (2) Postwar vacation homes ................................................ 13 (3) Architect-designed A-frames .......................................... 17 (4) Plan books, A-frame kits, and prefabricated A-frames .. 19 (5) National typologies ......................................................... 21 C. Non-residential applications ..................................................... 23 (1) Backcountry/park architecture ........................................ 23 (2) Commercial buildings ..................................................... 24 (3) Religious buildings ......................................................... 28 D. National context conclusion ...................................................... 29 5. Tourism in Boulder County .............................................................. 31 6. Post-World War II Boulder County .................................................. 37 7. A-frame Architecture in Boulder County ........................................ 39 A. Church examples ...................................................................... 39 B. Commercial examples .............................................................. 40 C. Residential A-frame architecture .............................................. 43 D. A-frame architects in Boulder County ....................................... 44 E. Local kit/prefab providers ......................................................... 48 F. “Imagineered vacation homes”: Delta vacation homes ............ 55 G. The peak of the A-frame in Boulder County ............................. 70 H. Geographic concentrations ....................................................... 71 I. Boulder County’s unique/rare A-frames ................................... 82 J. Decline of A-frames in Boulder County .................................... 86 K. Lost A-frames ........................................................................... 88 Historic Context of A-frame Architecture in Boulder County i Table of Contents 8. A-frame Character-defining Features, Variations, and Subtypes in Boulder County ............................................................ 91 A. What is and is not an A-frame .................................................. 91 (1) Nuances of what is and is not an A-frame ..................... 91 (2) Examples ........................................................................ 91 B. Character-defining features and variations .............................. 97 (1) Discussion of primary character-defining features ......... 97 (2) Character-defining features – Exterior variations........... 98 (3) Character-defining features – Interior .......................... 103 (4) Outbuildings ................................................................. 104 C. Subtypes of the A-frame form ................................................. 106 (1) Arched (Gothic) A-frame .............................................. 106 (2) Gambrel roof A-frame .................................................. 107 (3) Flat-top A-frame ........................................................... 108 (4) Double A-frame ............................................................ 108 (5) A-frame with wings (modified A-frame) ........................ 109 (6) Nested A-frame ............................................................ 110 (7) Staggered A-frame ....................................................... 110 9. Evaluating and Determining Significance of A-frames in Boulder County ............................................................................... 111 A. Results of COMPASS database search for A-frames ............ 111 B. Evaluation ............................................................................... 111 C. National Register evaluation of individual properties ............. 112 (1) Period of significance and areas of significance .......... 113 D. Colorado State Register evaluation of individual properties .. 117 E. Applying Boulder County Landmarks Criteria to a property ... 117 (1) Criterion 4 ..................................................................... 118 (2) Criterion 5 ..................................................................... 118 (3) Criterion 7 ..................................................................... 119 (4) Criterion 8 ..................................................................... 119 F. Integrity ................................................................................... 119 (1) Location ........................................................................ 119 (2) Design .......................................................................... 119 (3) Setting .......................................................................... 119 (4) Materials ....................................................................... 120 (5) Workmanship ............................................................... 120 (6) Feeling .......................................................................... 120 (7) Association ................................................................... 120 (8) Alterations to individual A-frames................................. 120 G. National Register evaluation of Historic Districts .................... 121 Historic Context of A-frame Architecture in Boulder County ii Table of Contents (1) Period of significance and areas of significance .......... 122 (2) Alterations to potential historic districts ........................ 124 H. Defining historic boundaries ................................................... 125 I. Documentation that should be provided for A-frame nominations ............................................................................ 125 10. Recommendations .......................................................................... 127 Bibliography ............................................................................................... 129 Appendices A Compilation of Known A-frames within Boulder County: Spreadsheet B Compilation of Known A-frames within County: Assessor Records with Photographs C Responses to Boulder County A-frame Survey D Delta A-frame Brochures/Materials E Delta A-frame, List of Attributed Properties The activity that is the subject of this material has been financed in part with federal funds from the National Historic Preservation Act, administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior for History Colorado. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of the Interior or History Colorado, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the U.S. Department of the Interior or History Colorado. This program received federal funds from the National Park Service. Regulations of the U.S. Department of the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination in departmental federally-assisted programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of federal assistance should write to: Director, Equal Opportunity Program, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240. Photo cover: A-frame at 833 Hemlock Drive, Unincorporated, Boulder County, provided by owner Catherine Faughnan. Historic Context of A-frame Architecture in Boulder County iii THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Section 1 Introduction 1. Introduction We have all seen them. Their distinctive roof line peaking over the evergreens and pines. Especially in Colorado, where their steep gable seems to mimic the shape of the mountains and the form sends connotations of cozy après ski fires. The A-frame. Most communities in Colorado can boast to having one, and everybody knows where it is, likely using it as a way-finding and orienting feature. These memorable forms dot the Colorado landscape, and not without reason. A-frames were a quick, easy, and affordable way for individuals to construct their own vacation home. The snow-sloughing roofs meant the buildings could withstand the heavy Colorado snowfall with minimal maintenance from their often- seasonal homeowners. In addition, the strong yet light-weight form was relatively easy to transport over mountain roads and build