Denver Square & the Classic Cottage

Aka…..the Denver Square as there are so-o-o-o many here!

Named for the simple fact that Denver Squares contain four square rooms on the first floor and four square rooms on the second floor, this style abounds in Denver. Most were constructed following the Silver Crash in 1893 during which the trend in design was toward less ornate and more accessible architectural styles. Essentially they are simplified versions of the more elaborate Colonial Revival Style.

The single story porches were initially built using Tuscan columns and a simple wooden balustrade. After 1900, the wooden structures gave way to masonry materials, and homeowners sometimes enclosed their little used porches to make sunrooms in attempts to escape more congested urban streets.

Decorative elements included leaded and decorative glass windows, often using the popular diamond shape on the upper portions of the windows. The space between the second floor windows was commonly used to ornament the plain style with decorative brick or terra cotta panels. Later, more variation was added to the Denver Square style with some examples in the city even possessing towers, Mission Style parapets, and Italianate influences.

Found throughout the city, they are especially common to Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park,City Park and West Highlands.

1121 Clarkson Street

One of the first Denver Squares built in 1896 by Calvin T. Fleming for himself. The Flemings were a partnership of four brothers who started their business as carpenters in the Baker neighborhood. They developed many of the more common Foursquare houses as speculation houses, probably by following a pattern book.

Capitol Hill

1866 Gaylord Street

Another early example of the Denver Square designed by Richard Phillips

1076 Josephine Street

An example of how elaborate the decorative elements can be. Carved wood embellish the lower enclosed porch and upper gallery.

Congress Park

1409 East 12th Avenue

A riot of Adamesque decoration adorns this unique Foursquare.

1300 Block of Milwaukee Street

There are thousands of Denver Squares found throughout the city. One of the best blocks to explore examples of the varied interpretations of the Denver Square is the 1300 block of Milwaukee Street.

Congress Park

2500 Block of West 32nd Avenue

Several squares by Frank Edbrooke

432 South Washington Street

One of the best examples of the Classic Cottage in Denver. It was built using red brick over a rusticated stone foundation which is echoed in the stone lintels. The small porches is held up by Tuscan columns and boasts a detailed pediment.

1340 Ash Street

This cozy cottage incorporates bay windows under the broad front porch which are echoed in the dormer above.

Mayfair

152 South Downing Street

This unique example of the Classic Cottage uses the newly developed material of cast concrete blocks that were designed to mimic stone as its structure. After a few years of experimentation in the early 1900s, the “cast stone” was developed with a hollow interior which was good for insulation. It was rarely used in Denver.