Brown Brokaw Bowen

Principals:
Dick Brown
Jack Brokaw
Bill Bowen (1930-2013)

In 1966, this Boulder, Colorado based firm designed an Aspen vacation home at 407 N. Third Street for Joseph and Holly Coors, who resided in Golden, Colorado. Joseph was the grandson of Adolf Coors and served as President and COO of Coors Brewing. While most of this firm’s work was focused on designing schools and recreation centers across Colorado, each partner had a passion for modernist homes. Bowen attended University of Oklahoma, receiving degrees in architecture and architectural engineering during the time that ground breaking architect Bruce Goff chaired the department. Jack Browkaw received his architecture degree from University of Colorado and began his career in the offices of Charles Haertling and Nixon and Jones, recognized midcentury architects in Colorado. Dick Brown also graduated from University of Colorado and worked in the office of Nixon and Jones.

In the 1960s in Aspen, numerous buildings, such as the Coors house reflected the combined influences of classic Chalet architecture with the Modernist approach employed by trained architects. The low pitched roof, deep overhangs, balconies, simple form, orientation towards the mountain and other aspects of the Chalets were re-visited with much more glazing on the primary façade, typically carrying all the way up to the roof. Decoration was minimal, but still focused on the eaves, fascia, and balconies.

AIA Colorado video of Jack Browkaw