Denver Modernism Week is an annual celebration of mid-century modern architecture and design, focusing on the city's historic homes and neighborhoods from the 1950s and 60s. The event features various presentations, discussions, and screenings aimed at increasing awareness and appreciation of Denver's architectural heritage and the importance of preservation. The inaugural event took place from August 26-27, 2017, and future events are planned to continue promoting mid-century modern design in the area.

1. Enhancing your knowledge and appreciation
of Denver’s historic mid-century modern
housing, architecture, and design.
August
26th-27th
2017

2. Saturday All presentations are on the second floor of the
Denver Modernism Show, unless otherwise noted.
11:30am
What is the Mid-Century Modern Home?
Atom Stevens, Historian
A lot of us know it when we see it. We are familiar with many of the
great examples of mid-century modern houses both in Denver and
beyond. But do you know where this style came from? What defines
a house as “mid-century modern?”
1:00pm
Arapahoe Acres + Arapaho Hills
Diane Wray Tomasso, Historic Preservation Consultant
Arapahoe Acres and Arapaho Hills are among the most well known
mid-century modern neighborhoods in the country. Historian Diane
Wray will bring you the historical significance that placed both
neighborhoods on the National Register of Historic Places, and their
ongoing preservation challenge in the face of rising property values.
2:30pm
Deza Estates: Mid-Mod Dream Homes on a Hill
Lauren Weatherly, Northglenn Historic Commission
Deza Estates is one of the best kept secrets in mid-century modern
neighborhoods in the Denver area. Resident Lauren Weatherly
reveals the location of this neighborhood of high-design mid-mod
homes, its incredible terrain, and the mysteries around its
construction, and the builder himself, along with their plight for
historic preservation.
4:00pm
The Rocky Mountain Cliff May Homes
Atom Stevens, Neighborhood Historian
Historian and resident Atom Stevens teaches about the incredible
design of Cliff May and Chris Choate’s pre-fabricated ranch
homes, and the story of the construction of 170 of them in Denver’s
Harvey Park Neighborhood.
7:00pm
The Bug Theatre
3654 Navajo St
in Denver
Doors open @
6:30PM
Movie Screening & Panel Discussion
Featuring a pre-show panel discussion with local
leaders in mid-century modern design and preservation
Presenting the fascinating story of an ill-fated MCM home in
“Windshield: A Vanished Vision.”
Before the film will be a continuation of the discussion that began
this summer at Denver Design Week, “Mid-Century Modern:
Pop Culture or Enduringly Relevant Design?” with panelists
Adrian Kinney, Peter Blank, and Jonas DiCaprio.
Admission $10

3. Sunday All presentations are on the second
floor of the Denver Modernism Show.
11:30am
Design for Life, Design for Lifestyle: Distinctive
Ecological Landscaping for Your Mid-Mod Home
Dustin Wright, Designer
While the design principles behind mid-century modern homes
are clear and oft discussed, the principles of landscape design to
compliment these homes can be less clear. In Colorado we love
being outside and respect nature for what it adds to our lives, but
how we embody that in our landscape can also be a challenge.
Dustin answers both of these questions and guides the audience
through a series of principles that will illustrate the basics of
mid-century landscaping design, how we design it to reflect us,
and how we bring an ecological approach to our work. Mid-century
homes were designed to bring the outside in, but the landscape
should be designed to bring your family out.
1:00pm
Charles Deaton: Denver’s Futuristic Architect
Diane Wray Tomasso, Historic Preservation Consultant
Designer of the famous “Sleeper House” along I-70, and the Key
Savings Bank (now Community Banks of Colorado) in downtown
Englewood among other projects around the country, Deaton
had a unique, futuristic style all of his own. Historian Diane Wray
introduces you to Deaton, his work, and the need to preserve these
important pieces of Colorado architecture.
2:30pm
South Dahlia Lane: A Great Experiment in
Community and Affordable Housing
Dana Sednek, Neighborhood Historian & Archivist
South Dahlia Lane, was built in the 1950s as the country’s first
community of single-family housing using the cooperative model
of financing, where the entire neighborhood of 32 houses shared
a 40-year mortgage. The lead designer of the project was DU
architecture professor and mid-century modern architect Eugene
Sternberg. Resident Dana Sednek introduces you to the great story
of this neighborhood, its unique street plan designed to encourage
community, and the wonderful designs of its houses.
is sponsored by:
COMidModHomes.com

4. Save the Date!
August 19-26, 2018
We look forward to seeing you at
Denver Modernism Week 2018!
Denver is fortunate to have a tremendous variety of architectural styles, designs,
and ideas represented throughout the city and suburbs. Among those is a
collection of high-quality modern places, buildings, and homes from the 1950s and
‘60s (including some built in the ‘40s and ‘70s) which would today be referred to as
“mid-century modern” architecture and design.
Denver Modernism Week is a new annual event with the purpose of celebrating
mid-century modern architecture and design with a focus on Denver. Lectures,
presentations, tours, movie screenings and more will create awareness about the
various buildings and places that exist here and discuss the ideas behind them
in hopes to create pride in Denver’s mid-century modern places and buildings,
inspire interest in the preservation of existing structures, and promote an interest
in returning to the sort of idea-based architecture and design in new construction
that makes mid-century modern buildings and objects so special.
For our first years, the week will be designed to compliment the popular and
long-running Denver Modernism Show, a convention that takes place every summer
at the National Western Complex. The week will add the sort of content that
enthusiasts of mid-century modern architecture and design have been hoping the
show might provide.
Our long-term vision is to establish a non-profit
that will grow the event to something that
attendees look forward to year-after-year,
attract attendees both locally and nationally,
and that will ultimately have a positive effect
on the appreciation of quality modern design
in Denver both in the context of the past and
the future. Watch DenverModernismWeek.com
in the coming months for updates.
Questions? Ask the Organizers:
Adrian Kinney
Adrian.Kinney@gmail.com
303.219.0629
Atom Stevens
Atom@TheHappyAtom.com
303.900.8220