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Project Tour: New Urbanism in Colorado
High-density community forges its own style from a mix of influences, uses and sustainable design ideas
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
If you were a world-class kayaker, and one of the best stretches of river in the country was about to be cut off from the public by a private developer, what would you do? Outdoorsy brother and sister Jed Selby and Katie Selby Urban sprang to action, scooping up the parcel and delving deep into sustainable design and New Urbanism. After finding like-minded people, master planners and becoming developers themselves, they fought the myriad of zoning obstacles that prevent dense development, and this new community, which connects the historic town of Buena Vista to the Arkansas River's waterfront, is well on its way.
By the time the brother and sister had a master plan in hand, had cleared the zoning boards and broke ground, they had met architect Kenny Craft, a like-minded New Urbanist with a passion for indigenous architecture and green building. Craft is the design director of South Main, their development, and he has already designed 12 of the buildings in the neighborhood.
By the time the brother and sister had a master plan in hand, had cleared the zoning boards and broke ground, they had met architect Kenny Craft, a like-minded New Urbanist with a passion for indigenous architecture and green building. Craft is the design director of South Main, their development, and he has already designed 12 of the buildings in the neighborhood.
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| Two major components of New Urbanism include walkability and mixed-use programs, with residences and commercial buildings existing side-by-side or one above of the other. The owners of this retail shop live in the two-bedroom apartment upstairs, making their commute about 10 feet. |
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| Craft's approach to the design of this building included studying local precedents, incorporating the indigenous Victorian style with an "old Wild-West feel." Craft starts with tradition and history, then reinterprets the details; the intent is not to turn this into a nostalgic theme-parky town. Some of these details include the balcony, parapet and the emphasis on verticality. |
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Because this mining town boomed during the late 1800s, the predominant historic architecture is Victorian. While foregoing the ornate gingerbread details of the Gilded Age, Craft has created a South Main signature "stripped Victorian" style. "I like to use 2-over-2 windows to emphasize verticality," he says. This move has become one of the local architecture's patterns.
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| Craft uses paint for details in lieu of the typical gingerbread Victorian detailing seen in the precedents. "Painting the casings, jambs and panes different colors adds depth and vibrance," Craft explains. |
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This cottage embodies so much of what the neighborhood is about. At just 1,152 square feet, the design is "super compact, simple, efficient and easy to construct," Craft says. "Generally speaking, in traditional architecture most houses are just boxes with incredible proportions and details."
The house is just 18' wide by 32' deep, but has made the most of the space. "I avoid elements like long hallways; it's better not to waste that space and use it in something like a bedroom instead," says Craft.
The house is just 18' wide by 32' deep, but has made the most of the space. "I avoid elements like long hallways; it's better not to waste that space and use it in something like a bedroom instead," says Craft.
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The homes were originally required to be Built Green Colorado Certified; while that company no longer exists, South Main is still following the spirit of the original checklist while searching for an appropriate third-party certifier. Among the green elements they use: spray-foam insulation, metal roofs where appropriate, energy-efficient windows, Energy Star appliances, low-VOC products, and floors of reclaimed or renewable materials such as bamboo and cork.
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| While the overall style of many of the buildings is stripped Victorian, certain details have become part of the neighborhood's look. One of Craft's signatures is exposed rafter tails, an element he borrows from Craftsman architecture. The steeply pitched metal roof is another locally rooted element that responds to the climate, shedding snow with ease. |
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| Consideration of clients' roots is an important design factor which helps keep variety in the architecture. The clients who built this rowhouse were from California, so San Francisco's Painted Ladies inspired the bay window on the front facade. The corner chimney is an anchoring element that makes a big impact on the front and side facades. Eventually this row will include five attached homes. |
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| Inside, the house incorporates river rock, an abundant local material. "Dig down a foot just about anywhere, and you'll hit river rock," Craft says. "It is a readily available, practically free material that helps create a local style." |
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The home has a unique staircase was dreamed up by designer Kennley Montrose and fashioned by local metalcrafter Jim Butler. "Utilizing the talents of local craftspeople and artisans supports the community's economy and adds the unique local flavor and flair that makes the place cool," says Craft. This type of custom work makes these newly built homes stand out.
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| This larger home was adapted for a family from Tuscon, who preferred Southwestern style. Because they weren't crazy about the aesthetic of the metal roof, Craft decreased the pitch to make it less noticable. He incorporated the local material of river rock, the historic local precedent of arches over the windows, and the new local element of parapets. |
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| The family owns a tile business, so their tile designs were also integrated into the design, inside and out, putting a personal stamp on the home. |
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More work by metalworker Jim Butler has contributed many of the fine details to this home. On the exterior, he repurposed an old ski lift cable from Breckenridge into a railing. "This was a perfect solution for the curved wall," says Craft.
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A unique zinc runner with copper-nail detailing covers the stairs that lead from the home's garage to an apartment overhead. The interior design of this home is by Kennley Montrose.
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| In the great room, the floors are made up of 11 different reclaimed hardwoods. The mantle and beams were repurposed from an old Pabst brewery, and the fireplace is made from the local river rock. "As a rule, old materials are left raw and natural, while new materials are painted," says Craft. |
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In a project like South Main, density is key. Under 40 acres of the South Main project contain 250 lots, and 320 total dwelling units are planned. Underneath typical zoning constraints, this many units would have swallowed between 160 and 640 acres, not to mention extra miles of infrastructure like roads and pipes.
This residence contains a 2-bedroom income apartment on the first floor, and a 3- bedroom unit above. Because the town's population tends to double in the summer, South Main incorporates vacation rentals.
This residence contains a 2-bedroom income apartment on the first floor, and a 3- bedroom unit above. Because the town's population tends to double in the summer, South Main incorporates vacation rentals.
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The porch's details show the influence of Craft's Southern upbringing, architectural education and career. This design was inspired by the porches of Beaufort South Carolina. It's a good example of how Craft blends, mixes and creates transitions between styles and eras for unique results.
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| The area does not have much of a history of Craftsman style, because by the time that style of architecture gained popularity, this mining town had already gone bust. However, these clients were drawn to Craftsman style, so Craft abided by their wishes and added some South Main touches, creating another good example of blended styles. The river rocks and steep metal roof are a few examples of this, while the wraparound porch navigates between Craftsman and Victorian style. |
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| Rather than "many over one" paned windows typically seen on Craftsman houses, Craft let the top half of the windows stay at many and kept the more Victorian look of two panes on the bottom. He also included the rafter tail roof detail that is used throughout the town. After becoming so involved with South Main, Craft and his family moved there four months ago. "What makes this project work so well is that everything is interconnected," he Craft. "It's not just some New Urbanist development out in the middle of nowhere." The South Main neighborhood is a 5-10 minute walk from historic downtown Buena Vista. It has its own town square and local businesses, including the very popular Eddyline brewery and restaurant, which is a big draw. "Living out here is much more conducive to a healthy active lifestyle," Craft says. "Since we moved out here, my wife and I can take the kids to school on our bikes, and my family has been watching a lot less television." More: Learn More About South Main's Beginnings and Future Houzz Tour: The Green Gambrel House Houzz Tour: The Concord Green Healthy House Book Tour: Salvage Secrets |
Ideabook updated on Oct. 15, 2011.
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The South Main blog is also a great source of information, as the project is ongoing and is not even half-completed yet:
http://livefromsouthmain.com/
The Real Buena Vista Consists Of Many People Making Meager Wages In Restaurants And At The Local Prison To Put Food On The Table. The Town Can No Longer Keep Citizens Based On The "Beautiful View" Alone.
I Commend Mayor Joel Benson For All Of His Balanced Work And Vision.