The Architect of Grand Junction Home Featured in NY Times Helped Shape Western Colorado
A home currently for sale in Grand Junction has been featured in the New York Times because of its price and the incredible works of the famous Colorado architect who designed it.
The house at 651 Round Hill Drive was built in 1959 and designed by Colorado architect Frederic 'Fritz' Benedict, an apprentice to world renown architect and interior designer Frank Lloyd Wright.
Frederic A. Benedict earned Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Landscape Architecture from the University of Wisconsin. He was invited to work with Wright in 1938. Benedict studied under Wright at both Taliesen in Wisconsin and Taliesen West in Arizona.
Benedict found his way to Colorado first in 1941 as a competitor in the National Skiing Championships in Aspen and again as part of the U.S. 10th Mountain Division which trained at Camp Hale in Leadville. Benedict served in the Army including active duty in Italy until the war was over in 1945.
Following the war, Benedict returned to Aspen, bought property on Red Mountain, and spent a short time ranching before returning to architecture working with artist and architect Herbert Bayer and entrepreneur Walter Paepke to help turn Aspen into an internationally known ski resort.
Benedict designed and renovated over 200 buildings in Aspen including the Berger Cabin, Edmundson Waterfall House, Aspen Alps Condominiums, the original Pitkin County Library, Copper Kettle, and Pitkin County Bank.
Benedict designed the master plans for Vail, Snowmass, and Breckenridge ski resorts. He assisted with designs for Aspen, Steamboat, and Winter Park ski resorts. Benedict also created the 10th Mountain Hut and Trail system leading to 10 huts and 300 miles of trails between Aspen and Vail. Benedict's original system has been expanded to 34 huts and over 350 miles of trails.
The New York Times article featured three unique homes from around the U.S. for sale at $600,000 or less and the Grand Junction home is unique in both its design and the history of the architect who built it.
The Benedict designed home on Round Hill Drive is a 2,062 square foot 3 bedroom, two baths, single story home on a one-acre lot. The house is currently listed for sale at $560,000.