In the 1920’s, architect Charles Klauder designed a series of buildings for the University of Colorado. The similarities of place between Boulder, Colorado and the Tuscan region of Italy, led Klauder to develop buildings in "Tuscan Vernacular" style for the campus. The appropriateness of the style resulted in a campus known worldwide for its timeless beauty.

Phil Pokorny was commissioned by Colorado homebuilder McStain Enterprises to design a Tuscan-style home in Lafayette, Colorado that would pay tribute to the CU campus architecture. After extensive research, the house was designed with simple tile roofed forms clad in local sandstone.