Historic Preservation and Restoration

I have had the honor, responsibility, adventure, and pleasure of working on several historic buildings during my career. Each has presented a very different set of challenges—and an opportunity to understand and preserve a piece of architectural history.

My first historic preservation project was an 1865 rustic stone cabin in the Wyoming mountains, where the U.S. Cavalry once raised horses. Its walls were constructed of stone gathered from the site, and even a rail from the Transcontinental Railroad had been incorporated as a beam supporting the roof.

My next project was the restoration and remodeling of a grand, ornate mansion near the Denver Zoo. Because the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, any work affecting the exterior had to comply with strict preservation requirements. In striking contrast to the rustic Wyoming cabin, its elegant interior featured a grand staircase, refined plaster moldings, and rich mahogany paneling.

My most recent historic restoration project involved an early-1900s Tudor-style residence whose interior had suffered from an unsympathetic previous remodeling. Much of the original woodwork had been removed, and the challenge was to faithfully recreate the paneling, doors, moldings, and other architectural details that had once given the house its distinctive character.

I have approached each of these projects with a sense of reverence for the building and respect for the architects, craftsmen, and builders who came before me. I try to understand not only what they did, but why they did it. The challenge is then to accommodate the needs of contemporary owners while respecting the original architecture and detracting from it as little as possible.

Scroll through the images below to learn more about these historic preservation and restoration projects.

Historic Remount Ranch, Buford, Wyoming

The Historic Remount Ranch is located between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The original cabin was constructed around 1886 from stone gathered on the site. A beam in the cabin is a rail taken from the nearby Transcontinental Railroad. The Ranch gets its name from the time when horses were raised there for the U.S. Cavalry. Mary O'Hara lived at the Ranch where she wrote "My Friend Flicka"among other books. There is still a barn there named "The Flicka Barn". Later the Ranch became a guest ranch, visited by such notable people as Pat Boone, Arthur Godfrey, and The McGuire Sisters. The Remodeling and addition project depicted in the photos here was commissioned by John and Mary Ostland. This project included the construction of an addition which created an outdoor atrium. It added a home office and a whirlpool tub room. The existing kitchen and master bedroom suite were also updated. The existing cabin gained in-floor electric heat, accomplished by running electric current through the reinforcing mesh in the new concrete floor. The entire roof was covered with a layer of nailable rigid insulation for increased energy efficiency. Robert Larsen Architect carefully studied the forms of the addition to match the character of the existing building. Walls were constructed with stone gathered on the site to mach the stone on the original cabin.

Remount Ranch - Floor Plan with Addition in Blue

Floor plan of the historic ranch house with addition highlighted.

Remount Ranch - Original Cabin on Left, New Addition on Right

The roof slopes of the new addition on the right match the existing historic building. Field stone was gathered on the site and laid up in a random pattern to match the existing masonry. Rigid insulation was added over existing roof decks to improve energy efficiency. All roofs received new cedar shingles. All new trim and siding match the existing.

Remount Ranch - Original Cabin on Left, New Addition on Right

Remount Ranch - Original Cabin on Left, New Addition on Right

Recent Photo - New North Entry

This entryway is part of the new addition and was carefully designed by Robert Larsen Architect to match the materials and details of the existing historic construction.

Remount Ranch - Interior of New Entry Hall

The same field stone used on the exterior continues on the inside wall surfaces of the new hallway.

Remount Ranch - Inside the New Atrium

Interior view of the new courtyard which was formed by the L-shaped addition. The doorway on the right opens to the new entry hall. All materials and details were carefully designed by Robert Larsen Architect to match the existing historic construction.

Remount Ranch - Interior of Original 1856 Cabin

The wire mesh reinforcing in new concrete floor topping was electrified to provide invisible supplemental heat in this 1856 original cabin. Original stone fireplace and wood pole roof trusses seen in this view were preserved.

Remount Ranch - Primary Suite

Previously added primary suite addition was remodeled with new finishes, cabinets, and plumbing fixtures. Green concrete block fireplace chimney received new stucco finish, tile and rustic wood mantle.

Remount Ranch - Office Addition Interior

Stucco textured walls and wood plank ceilings in the addition continue the rustic character of the home. Audio video equipment was recessed into arch-top built-in cabinetry.

Smith Mansion, Denver. Complete interior and exterior restoration.

Robert Larsen, Architect, prepared the design and construction drawings for the restoration and adaptive reuse of this prestigious historic residence into professional office space. Because the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, all exterior modifications were required to comply with strict historic preservation standards. The restoration included the complete replacement of the balustrades, refinishing of the decorative terra cotta elements, repainting of all exterior trim, and numerous additional repairs to preserve the building's architectural character while accommodating its new use.