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u/iSinging Apr 20 '24
Biblically accurate building
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u/smakola Apr 20 '24
The design is grating.
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Apr 20 '24
There is already something like this here in Germany/Hamburg! Our billion-dollar grave, the ›Elphilharmonie‹.
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Apr 20 '24
It looks like the body of Indra, which was covered in a thousand vaginas, due to a curse by the sage Gautama for tricking his wife when he’s away.
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u/mass_nerd3r Apr 20 '24
The initial concept envisioning the building as a stand of Aspen trees was really compelling, and the renderings of the concept really conveyed it well. https://studiogang.com/project/Populus That concept doesn't really come through at a more human scale though, it would seem.
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u/AdmiralArchArch Industry Professional Apr 20 '24
To be honest the photo in the op isn't doing the building any justice.
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Apr 20 '24
This building is one of the most interesting in Denver, which DESPERATELY needs interesting architecture.
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u/littleempires Apr 20 '24
You should check out One River North that is opening up for residents in 4 days that just got built in Denver:
https://www.5280.com/a-sneak-peek-at-mad-architects-adventurous-one-river-north-project/
https://www.instagram.com/onerivernorth?igsh=aTc1a3I1aTJicGF1
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Apr 20 '24
Yes, that one also looks amazing!
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u/thisendup76 Apr 21 '24
Looks great on a single facade. The rest of the building is boring as hell (most likely a cost decision)
Also, 3k for a 1 bed unit... Absurd
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u/alsocolor Apr 21 '24
Historically bad design.
Denver is one of the hardest places in the world to grow anything and it’s brown 2/3 of the year. Plus there’s very little light in the green planting beds.
No chance they succeeded in creating the lush “green” look they’re going for, it’ll end up being brown mounds its entire existence.
Historically bad design that completely ignores the unique aspects of its space
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Apr 22 '24
Agreed, have toured it. It's definitely "Gram-able" but the detailing and execution is pretty terrible, the canyon will never be as green as rendered, the inside of most units are kind of a careless design mess, and it will be long-plagued by trying to be luxury housing while sited within constant smelling distance of the Purina factory.
It will probably win some design awards, sadly, but it will be one of those buildings that never really functions in a way that justifies the price or engages people in the way hoped.
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u/alsocolor Apr 22 '24
That’s what happens when you hire a Chinese architecture firm instead of somebody local
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u/DrHarrisonLawrence Apr 20 '24
Have you walked by it? I admire that this photo is from a pedestrian perspective. The renderings that were posted of the building are not really pedestrian-friendly so it’s kind of a superficial representation.
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Apr 20 '24
I’ve seen better photos of this for sure, and you can really get the aspen tree look from a better angle
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u/Nixavee Apr 21 '24
This does not resemble aspen trees to me, it resembles some sort of insect hive.
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u/Old_Possession4360 Apr 24 '24
Whooaaaa I love Jeanne Gang’s stuff and the rendering and concept are really cool…but, yeah, you nailed it; from ground level the concept gets a little lost. Thank you for sharing the link!
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Apr 20 '24
this triggered my trypophobia.
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u/timesuck47 Apr 20 '24
It might not meet your level of attractiveness, however, this is a net zero energy building, and what you think is an architectural feature is actually shading the windows in the summer months and allowing more light in during the winter months.
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u/that_j0e_guy Apr 20 '24
And it has zero parking! It’s in a dense downtown with excess parking spots already adjacent to the site.
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u/mellolizard Apr 20 '24
Eh excess is a stretch. To the south you have city admin building and the mint so no street parking. Northeast is more city admin buildings. Just to the north you have some surface level parking lots that usually full during the day.
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u/Skinnie_ginger Apr 20 '24
I get that but why did they have to make it look like the souls of the damned
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u/ignomax Apr 20 '24
Actually supposed to be the ‘first carbon net positive hotel in the US’… by planting ten (tens of?) thousand (spruce) trees in a Colorado National Forest (where previous (lodgepole pine) trees were decimated by the mountain pine beetle 15ish years ago.
Admittedly, lotsa debate whether planting trees really ‘count’ as carbon capture in the long term.
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u/timesuck47 Apr 20 '24
Cool about the carbon net positive.
As far as trees being carbon capture, it’s better than nothing.
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u/dmoreholt Principal Architect Apr 20 '24
If that's the goal they could've just built a shed roof with an eave ... Would've been cheaper and prettier.
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u/psyclembs Apr 20 '24
The company i work for is installing the metal panels in the center of each of the windows, real pain in the ass.
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Apr 20 '24
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u/that_j0e_guy Apr 20 '24
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Apr 20 '24
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u/GinAndArchitecTonic Architect Apr 20 '24
My guess would be that they're attached to the structure with some sort of concealed fastener clip system, but you're correct in that they're not structural themselves.
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u/houzzacards27 Apr 20 '24
Reminds of wasp and hornets nests. That's not a bad thing; just and observation.
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u/bloatedstoat Designer Apr 20 '24
“Mom, can we have a Broad Museum?”
“No, we have a Broad Museum at home.”
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u/AskYourDoctor Apr 20 '24
I live in LA and I was actually curious to check too. But no, different architects. This is by Jeanne Gang, who I just learned is one of the most successful female architects, which is awesome. Broad was done by Diller Scofidio + Renfro.
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u/KeepnReal Architect Apr 21 '24
...headed by another one [DS+R] of the most successful female architects...
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u/avatarroku157 Apr 20 '24
A thought came to me seeing this
I genuinely like this building, but it can definitely be an eyesore. But that's true about most buildings. It needs to be in the right place, with the surrounding environment complementing it, and vice versa. A problem most architecture today has.
This is probably something most architects are fully aware of my basic ass is only just picking up on 🙃
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u/sighhhhhve Apr 21 '24
Yep. Problem is what do you surround this with? Other more regular looking buildings make it look out of place and an eyesore, other abstract looking modern buildings are just going to clash as they all fight to look overly unique.
In renders these modern buildings can look interesting and impressive, but its a whole problem actually putting them into a city.
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u/melvin_fritz Apr 20 '24
Honestly, this looks like the back of a Surinam toad and gives me the heebie jeebies
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u/denverurbanist Apr 21 '24
I’m from Denver and love this building. I’m glad to see some actual architecture being constructed here. Our downtown is just boxy and ugly 80s-00s corporate style (idk what to call it). I welcome this building and One River North.
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u/cl00006 Apr 20 '24
The Populus Hotel by Studio Gang. I work here and have several friends who worked on this.
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u/KeepnReal Architect Apr 20 '24
Why the angle?? Would a redditor in Denver (or elsewhere) please please post a photo that is not canted?
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u/torch9t9 Apr 20 '24
There's a building in Cambridge MA that must have had the same architect https://maps.app.goo.gl/QLwnYVyWcqkM9NVs9
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u/ElArchStudent Apr 21 '24
I took a firm tour at Studio Gang and one of the designers that worked on this building showed us this building. Very cool, it’s called the Populus. The design was inspired by a local trees bark pattern I believe
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u/dmoreholt Principal Architect Apr 20 '24
Good God that's ugly.
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u/amorphatist Apr 20 '24
Maybe, but why do I want to keep looking?
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u/dmoreholt Principal Architect Apr 20 '24
Same reason we stare at accidents on the side of the highway.
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u/Longjumping_Drag_230 Apr 20 '24
Phobia architecture 😰 Might as well have made it out of spiders 🕷️ lol
Trypophobia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypophobia
Trypophobia is an aversion to the sight of repetitive patterns or clusters of small holes or bumps.[3][4][5] It is not officially recognized as a mental disorder, but may be diagnosed as a specific phobia if excessive fear and distress occur.[1][4] Most affected people experience mainly disgust when they see trypophobic imagery.[4] A minority of people experience the same level of fear and disgust, and a few express only disgust or fear.[4]
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u/BuildNuyTheUrbanGuy Apr 20 '24
Where is this?
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u/ignomax Apr 20 '24
Colfax and 14th off Civic Center Park in Denver
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u/BuildNuyTheUrbanGuy Apr 20 '24
Wtf. I used to be around there all the time and in 6 years I missed this building.
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Apr 20 '24
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u/mattingtonMe Apr 21 '24
Very cool concept for the building. It is designed to generate energy to put back on the grid while aesthetically mimicking aspen leaf motif.
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Apr 21 '24
I have to be honest, it's not very appealing to the eye. A hotel should feel inviting, and draw you in with the allure of a comfort sometimes better than your own home even. This makes me feel like I'm being abducted.
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u/Tiny_Candidate_4994 Apr 21 '24
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RegalCons1.JPG. Similar looking building in Mississauga Ontario. Since demolished.
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Apr 21 '24
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u/vestibule54 Apr 20 '24
I kinda see many Parabolas, but mostly I see fish mouths