A home designed by renowned architect Jules Jacques Benois Benedict, known as Jacques Benedict, has been listed by Taylor Heslop of LIV Sotheby’s International Realty. Known as “The Urling House” and built in 1921, this grand mansion located in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood was a wedding gift for Madeline Urling from her father, Harry I. Fisher, when she married Alex W. Urling of Pittsburgh.
Fisher worked in the oil industry and moved his family to Colorado nine years earlier when Madeline came down with tuberculosis, in the hopes the state’s climate would help her recover. While the marriage didn’t last, she kept the house and oversaw various expansions and modifications to the property.
Benedict also designed some of Denver’s most recognizable landmarks including the Gart Brothers Sports Castle (formerly the Cullen-Thompson Motor Co.), the Woodbury Branch Library, the Boat Pavilion in Washington Park, and the Chief Hosa Lodge. But he is most known for his Beaux-Arts residences found around the city, including 4050 Montview Boulevard.
With six bedrooms, six bathrooms and 6,399 square feet, the property is majestic, but it is the exquisite architectural details that make it unique. The Crimson brick laid in an intricate herringbone pattern, green tile roof, and ornate ironwork, stand out on their own. The arched double front door is encased by an impressive stone arch, and at one point was recognized as “One of the most beautiful doorways in Denver.”
Prior to landing in Denver, Benedict, who was born in Chicago, made his way to New York City where he worked on the New York Public Library as well as the Manhattan Bridge. According to History Colorado, Benedict became interested in designing large mountain residences for the rich. This was attributed to his association with John Brisben Walker, publisher of Cosmopolitan Magazine, who was promoting the construction of a “Summer White House” in Colorado. Unfortunately, the partially completed summer home for presidents, located in the Morrison area of Jefferson County, was destroyed by a lightning-induced fire in 1918. At that point, the project was abandoned.
In the late 1980s the property was rehabilitated by architects John and Nancy Carney who studied under the world-famous architect Michael Graves. It’s conveniently located with easy access to the Park Hill Library, the Museum of Nature and Science, City Park, the Denver Zoo, and several nearby shops and restaurants.
For those looking to purchase a piece of Denver history, there are only 60 known Benedict designed buildings still in existence, so this is truly a collector’s item.