ASLA 2014 ANNUAL MEETING & EXPO I Denver

Contrasting Aesthetics of Country Estates in Cherry Hills Village

Field Session FS003November 21, 2014

Overview

A walking tour of several elegant small country estates, ranging in size from 2 1/2 acres to 7 1/2 acres, in one of the most affluent Denver neighborhoods. Explore how classic design influences gave structure to these beautifully designed homes and are interpret-ed in the Colorado landscape.

Learning Objectives

● Discuss the planning history for Cherry Hills Village and the influence of S.R. DeBoer to create its first Master Plan so that its future growth may not turn into a hodge-podge of mistakes.

● Learn about how xeric planting, food production, and the use of storm water for irrigation can be beautifully integrated into residential design.

● Learn about design challenges inherent to the Colorado climate.

● Learn how Denver Landscape Architects are shaping the estates of this century by referencing European garden aesthetics interpreted for Colorado conditions.

Cherry Hills Village Land Use Map

* Courtesy of City of Cherry Hills Village

History

Cherry Hills Village is located ten miles south of downtown Denver in Arapahoe County with a population of approximately 6,000 residents in a 6.2 square mile area. It is a community of identifiable neighborhoods with 63 different subdivisions or homeowners’ assocations consisting primarily of single-family residences.

In the 1920’s, the area which would be Cherry Hills Village consisted largely of rural farms with a few homes built as “country homes” that were used by Denver residents as summer retreats. Two residents who had built permanent homes in the area, Alex Foster and George Gano, were instrumental in founding the Cherry Hills Country Club in 1922 which began to attract people who were looking for large properties, open space, and small farms. The club name was based on a cherry orchard that existed on a small knoll on the club grounds. The clubhouse grounds were designed by S.R. DeBoer who would later conduct the first Master Plan for Cherry Hills Village. In 1939, the unincorporated area that became known as Cherry Hills became the Cherry Hills District with a zoning plan that designated a minimum of 2 1/2 acre lots for most areas, a special category for 1 acre sites, limited commercial, philanthropic institutions, a public library, golf course, a church or a private club. It was not unusual for property owners to own much larger tracts of ten to twenty acres.

In 1950, a land use Master Plan was submitted by S.R. DeBoer which established a Community Center District and allowed for a limited amount of commercial uses which would keep the Village character and be laid out like a rural center rather than a city center.

Presenter Biographies

Herbert R. Schaal, FASLA

Mr. Schaal was the founding principal of EDAW’s (now AECOM) Colorado offices in 1974. His work is coast to coast and ranges in scale from national parks to residential gardens. He was named the Designer of the Year by the American Horiticultural Society, and with 60 state and national awards from the ASLA, Mr. Schaal is one of the most professionally awarded landscape architects in Colorado. He currently works on a limited number of projects from his home studio, “The Bellvue Emporium”, in Bellvue, Colorado. He may be contacted at herb.schaal@bellvueemporium.com.

Christopher Olson, ASLA

Mr. Olson is a founding partner of Eleven.Eleven : Landscape Architecture in Boulder, Colorado. Chris has been practicing professionally in Colorado since 1978 with a focus on hotel, resort and estate residential design. He has deep and extensive experience in site design, design detailing, construction documentation and translating those designs in the field working closely with the contractors doing the installations. Chris’s work includes numerous successful, award-winning projects.

Dale De Leo, Key Holder / Property Manager

Dale DeLeo is the founder and president of 2Keys Corp. and is focused on the day to day operations of running large private estates. He has over 20 years of experience managing luxury properties. He began his career while in Fairfield County, Connecticut before moving to Denver, Colorado. Dale is a published, award winning contractor for both his industry projects and for his charitable work in the community. He’s published articles in Better Homes & Gardens Magazine, The Denver Post Newspaper, Westword Magazine and Denver Magazine.

Quincy Barn & Gardens1305 East Quincy AvenueLandscape Designer: Dale De Leo

This ‘old homestead’, surrounded by adobe walls and set upon a picturesque landscape, sets a historic, rural tone that has defined Cherry Hills Village for almost a century. Using reclaimed old timbers, the barn’s design and construction is reminiscent of those that were built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The regional bridle trail system was re-routed to help join the once separate parcels to create a cohesive whole to the property while allowing each area of the site to maintain its own distinct character. The property includes the main house with pool and pool house, an original, operational 1919 Aerometer windmill, and a pond with island replete with swan boats.

Golf Course

Turf Parking

Entry

Putting Green

Guest Garden

Aromabo

Terrace Garden

Strolling Garden

Moon Viewing

In�nity Lawn

Pond

Playground

Pool

Cascade Garden

Kitchen Garden

Cutting Garden

Maple Allee

Spa Garden

Green Roof Court

Loggia

Arrival Court

2014 ASLA Garden Tour Route

Two Random Road, Cherry Hills Village, CO

Pond Bank House2 Random RoadLandscape Architect : EDAW Inc., Herb Schaal, FASLA

Architect: D.H. Ruggles & Associates, Don Ruggles, AIA

Completed in the Fall of 2012, the property includes 2.5 acres of gardens and a large Palladian style home. The gardens are designed with a selection of drought tolerant Colorado native and adapted plants to evoke a Mediterranean feeling to go with the architecture and conserve water. Twenty three large existing trees were relocated on the property and 152 new trees comprising 40 species and over 3,000 shrubs were planted to create a dozen separate garden rooms. More than 73 flower pots grace the courts and patios and 15 outdoor works of art are strategically placed. Sustainable design elements include the reuse of an existing property, use of roof runoff to irrigate terrace plantings, permeable turf parking for 35 cars integrated into the landscape, a green roof courtyard, the use of local stone, solar and geothermal devises and on site retention of storm water.

Secret Garden

Entry

RESIDENCE

Meadow

Grass BorderFish Pond

Party Lawn

Stream

Spa

VinyardOrchard

RaspberrieWine Cellar

Walled Garden

Kids’ Area

Exit

2014 ASLA Garden Tour RouteLINK-STROHM RESIDENCE

Twelve Lynn Road, Cherry Hills Village, CO

Birthday Markers

Link Strohm Residence12 Lynn RoadLandscape Architect : EDAW Inc., Herb Schaal, FASLA

Architect: D.H. Ruggles & Associates, Don Ruggles, AIA

Completed in 2006, the property includes approximately 4 acres of gardens, vineyard, orchard, bass pond and a 24,000 square foot Santa Barbara style home. The gardens feature drought resistant plantings, home food production and the orchard is sustainably irrigated with roof runoff. The garden received a design merit award from the Colorado Chapter of The American Society of Landscape Architects in 2008 and was featured in Colorado Homes and Lifestyles Magazine in 2012.

Cherry Hills Park

Landscape Architect : EDAW Inc., James Hyatt, Chris Olson, ASLA

Architect: Three Architecture, Dallas TX

Cherry Hills Park is a master planned gated community on 75 acres located centrally in the prestigious community of Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. This exclusive neighborhood was designed as a ‘great park with stately homes’ incorporating planning concepts utilized by Frederick Law Olmsted at the turn of the 20th century. These principals are exhibited through its rural ambience, road alignment, intimate streetscape, pocket parks, and siting of the 2 1/2 to 7 1/2 acre homesites.

12 Cherry Hills Park

Landscape Architect : EDAW Inc., James Hyatt, Chris Olson, ASLA

Architect: Larry Boerder Architects, Dallas TX

This five acre estate was inspired by private country estates of France characterized by a formal approach to the entry, manicured hedge-lined gravel paths connect-ing the garden spaces. The outdoor spaces provide an elegant atmosphere for entertainment with a grandeur to match the surrounding views. Main features include custom-crafted stone entry walls and wrought iron gates, hand-carved fountains that punctuate a parterre white garden, pool house, swimming pool and spa, and its adjoining lot that was developed as an open park space providing a foreground and preserving views to the Colorado Front Range.