SCENE WRITTEN BY CHRISTINE DEORIO
THE INSIDER MARGARET SELZER
BLUEPRINT P OP U LU S
Architect Jeanne Gang’s designs have been called daring, visionary and neighborhood-regenerating, but when describing her first Colorado project that takes shape at the intersection of Colfax Avenue, 14th Street and Court Place, the best term may be “city-defining.” Called Populus, in honor of the aspen tree (Populus tremuloides) that inspired its design, the structure’s unique fenestration evokes the eye-like patterns on an aspen’s trunk. “On the exterior, the ‘lids’ of each window stretch outward according to solar orientation to shade the interior, improving the building’s energy performance,” says Jon Buerge, chief development officer at Denver-based Urban Villages, the firm behind the project. “The windows change in size in response to how an [interior] space is used, mirroring the growth patterns of aspens.” The 13-story mixed-use building— slated for completion in 2023—will include a 250-key hotel, 40 micro-apartments, event spaces, multiple food and beverage offerings, and a rooftop bar and view deck. It’s a building “that is worthy of Denver’s rising prominence on the national and international stage,” Buerge says, and “an impressive architectural legacy for generations to come.” urban-villages.com
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LUXESOURCE.COM
What’s your take on “mountain” design? The days of embroidered bear pillows are over. I think good mountain architecture and design has evolved to be a reflection of the
location—a more harmonious response to the environment and how clients are interacting with nature. Do you have any current design obsessions? I’m currently obsessed with Caste, a furniture line from Montana. Their pieces are sculptural and organic—functional pieces of art that make a statement. What’s on the horizon? I’m really interested in the artisans and makers behind the products we buy. Last year, through Jaipur Rugs Foundation, I visited a rug-weaving village in India that helps to create opportunities for women through entrepreneurship and social development. I want to move our firm toward partnering with manufacturers like Jaipur Rugs, so that our purchases can have a much larger impact.
blueprint photo: courtesy studio gang. the insider photo: courtesy river + lime.
Denver-based design firm River + Lime operates under a simple premise when creating spaces for homeowners, architects and developers: “To complement, not compete with, the natural environment,” says founding principal Margaret Selzer, who oversees residential projects that span the mountains of the American West. “You’ll see that we’re drawn to organic materials and the layering of textures to create warmth and interest; minimal palettes that complement the uncomplicated beauty of the location.” Here, Selzer shares what drives her designs and what’s next for her firm. riverandlime.com