Did you know?
The Holland House, constructed by Eugene Groves in 1932/1933 was named a Denver Landmark on August 16th, 2010. Read more about Eugene Groves and the Holland House HERE!
EUGENE G. GROVES (1882-1967)
Eugene G. Groves was born in Dana, Indiana and educated at Harvard after winning a national design contest. He began practicing in New York, but came to Denver in 1914 to seek a treatment for his poor health. He had an active regional practice for over five decades. Groves utilized many styles throughout his career including, Modern style, Renaissance Revival, and Colonial Revival, however his experimentation combining styles is perhaps what makes him so significant.
During the 1930s, Groves constructed several concrete houses in Denver, experimenting with poured, cast, and reinforced concrete. He even patented his own technique utilizing precast concrete studs and beams supporting concrete slab floors and concrete stucco over wire mesh walls. Eliminating the need for woodwork in the framing allowed for a virtually fireproof building. Several of his houses also have interior cabinets, counters, seating, and bed frames formed from concrete. Groves even created his own company, the Concrete Corporation, in 1936 to erect buildings using his patented concrete construction methods.
Groves designed nineteen buildings on the campus of Colorado State University, and has more than a dozen building across the state on historic registers. Despite his seeming success, Groves died in 1967, after supposedly collapsing from starvation on the streets of Denver.
Interior photos of 2733 West 41st Avenue, a 1935 Groves home, taken during a private tour organized by Historic Denver
Holland House
Nordurland House
The Nordurland House was built in 1938 by architect Eugene Groves. Its exterior is rather exotic, featuring pronounced window mullions, fluted pilasters, dentil bands, and ornate buttressing, all made of cast concrete. In Bill Nelson’s Modern in Denver magazine article he claims the building has a “Baroque continuity that is at once historic yet futuristic, classically refined yet visually audacious.” The house also features a dome as well as thick stairway pillars with decorative circles that add Art Deco flair. Despite only appearing to be two stories, the interior actually has seven different levels with various stairways and ramps incorporated throughout.
The interior further makes apparent Grove’s affinity for concrete and rounded corners. Upon entering the house one finds a mysterious hallway leading to womb like spaces. Rounded doors, cabinets, built-ins, and cubby holes are also incorporated throughout.
