DENVER | Main Development Thread #6

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by Agent Orange

I could be mistaken, but I thought the University of Miami had a classical architecture program. I remember researching it during my 'let's change careers and become an architect' phase.

IIRC Andrés Duany teaches there and the U is closely associated with New Urbanism. That could help explain some of the school's neotraditional focus (especially given that the U's campus is anything but traditional).

[LAM]

mr1138

I think there are a lot of technologies out there that make faking it easier in some respects. You can buy fiberglass columns and precast concrete decorative trim, as two small examples. We can make windows out of fiberglass and aluminum that look like the old ones. But in the end, these things don't feel or even look like the old stone columns and the old growth wood windows are just all around much better than even modern wood windows. Then there is the thick walls and no insulation. We used to not worry about where the vapor barrier was until we added insulation and then we worried about moisture and mold. We used to make walls 18" thick and deep set windows that cast long shadows on the openings to give a building depth and character. Now we build walls that are 6" thick and have the windows flush to the outside so everything looks like a thin veneer.

Then of course, there is the argument, that we used to build buildings with the materials we had and the buildings reflected those materials in the forms that they took. Then, the modernist movement came along in the 20's and 30's and said we can do the same thing with new materials like concrete and steel and plastic. Some people really hate that look but, it has become a product of our efficient machine age that it just become cheaper and easier to build that way. Now, when the person holding the money says build me a building, they want to do it in a most cost effective way.

Everyone has mostly forgotten how they designed and how they built the buildings "back then". You can still build classically, but it just will not have the same feel and look as the old buildings unless you are willing to invest in it.

Just my observations over the years.

[TakeFive]

Gables Speer Blvd

Image courtesy of Gables Residential

Props to Justin/Denver Urban Review for the May Construction Update which has couple of very nice photos of this project on an overcast day. Here's one of them.

I think this project turned out quite nice.

[hammersklavier]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

[snip]
I think this project turned out quite nice.

...especially for something noticeably lacking gables of any sort!

[TakeFive]

Is Commons Park losing its peaceful aura?

[Stonemans_rowJ]

I know some people with a unit in here:

http://www.lincolnpark2550.com/

Lagrange’s beaux-arts design is a reflection of the elegance of European style, reminiscent of his French heritage. The interior palette was spearheaded by Darcy Bonner, founder of Darcy Bonner Associates. The overall architecture of the property was managed by the award-winning Solomon Cordwell Buenz, ensuring that each detail was executed with precision. Renowned landscape architect Thomas Balsley masterminded the lush and elegant Gardens of 2550, a 1.25-acre private park and the largest private garden in Lincoln Park.


It's pretty breathtaking. Makes you understand what a turd the Beauvallon is.

The 4 Seasons Denver doesn't have anything on this place.

[J21bird]

Thanks TakeFive!
I think the brickwork turned out decently well on Gables Speer Blvd.

[EngiNerd]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Is Commons Park losing its peaceful aura?

Meh, there are, and have been, cops in that park about every weekend for the off-and-on times I have lived near it in the last 8 years. Nothing's changed as far as I can tell. It's usually just homeless and vagrants that are on something that cause trouble.

[Colo Designer]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Gables Speer Blvd

Image courtesy of Gables Residential

Props to Justin/Denver Urban Review for the May Construction Update which has couple of very nice photos of this project on an overcast day. Here's one of them.

I think this project turned out quite nice.

That is a nice looking building. Thank heavens it didn't get gable-ified. The location of the transformers is very unfortunate though. That could have been a decent coffee shop patio.

[enjo13]

Originally Posted by Colo Designer

That is a nice looking building. Thank heavens it didn't get gable-ified. The location of the transformers is very unfortunate though. That could have been a decent coffee shop patio.

Both roads are pretty much speedways surrounding that. I don't think it'd be a real comfortable spot to hang out.

[DownhomeDenver]

Originally Posted by Stonemans_rowJ

I know some people with a unit in here:

http://www.lincolnpark2550.com/

Lagrange’s beaux-arts design is a reflection of the elegance of European style, reminiscent of his French heritage. The interior palette was spearheaded by Darcy Bonner, founder of Darcy Bonner Associates. The overall architecture of the property was managed by the award-winning Solomon Cordwell Buenz, ensuring that each detail was executed with precision. Renowned landscape architect Thomas Balsley masterminded the lush and elegant Gardens of 2550, a 1.25-acre private park and the largest private garden in Lincoln Park.


It's pretty breathtaking. Makes you understand what a turd the Beauvallon is.

The 4 Seasons Denver doesn't have anything on this place.

That is one fugly looking building. U seriously like that? Perhaps it's breathtaking from the inside and gardens, but it's a horribly monotonous design. It's just the beauvallon only taller.

[enjo13]

Originally Posted by DownhomeDenver

That is one fugly looking building. U seriously like that? Perhaps it's breathtaking from the inside and gardens, but it's a horribly monotonous design. It's just the beauvallon only taller.

The windows sticking out of the roof are really hard to make sense of. It looks like spider eyes.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6009/5977885821_bfcfd56414_b.jpg

[Robert.hampton]

Originally Posted by enjo13

Both roads are pretty much speedways surrounding that. I don't think it'd be a real comfortable spot to hang out.

The whole building is an island surrounded by traffic, resident are really going to feel trapped if they want to go the pedestrian route, so theyll probably drive everywhere, even to the Moes across the street. And 80% of the first floor is garage parking visible from the street.....BLEGH.

I think the picture looks nice but it looks a whole lot worse in person.

[CherryCreek]

Originally Posted by Robert.hampton

The whole building is an island surrounded by traffic, resident are really going to feel trapped if they want to go the pedestrian route, so theyll probably drive everywhere, even to the Moes across the street. And 80% of the first floor is garage parking visible from the street.....BLEGH.

I think the picture looks nice but it looks a whole lot worse in person.

Agreed. I'd give it a solid "D". Below average, generic Denver Apartment building, circa 2016.

[enjo13]

Originally Posted by CherryCreek

Agreed. I'd give it a solid "D". Below average, generic Denver Apartment building, circa 2016.

Do we weight the grade for the location, cause I think they did about as well as you can with that spot. It's just a bad location for just about any purpose. I'd give it a B- for materials mainly.

[TakeFive]

I would have much preferred a Magnificent Sculpture on a grassy knoll but nobody asked me and apparently the City of Denver had no interest. So we can either bitch or Be Happy.

[The Dirt]

I like it. My only problem is that they didn't max out the height under the zoning.

[enjo13]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

I would have much preferred a Magnificent Sculpture on a grassy knoll but nobody asked me and apparently the City of Denver had no interest. So we can either bitch or Be Happy.

Damn you're right that would have been awesome. Something like this:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Andrew_Jackson_NO.jpg

But with John Elway.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by enjo13

Damn you're right that would have been awesome. Something like this:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Andrew_Jackson_NO.jpg

But with John Elway.

Too funny.

[TakeFive]

"Denver focuses on attracting more people to 16th Street Mall this summer"
May 5, 2016 by Liz Gelardi - 7NEWS Denver

"And that's what we're trying to do with these studies -- is experiment with ways that we can attract people to stay longer and not just move through," said John Desmond, executive vice president of the Downtown Denver Partnership.

Buses Be Gone

This year's "Meet in the Street" festival is expanding to five consecutive weekends, including Saturday and Sunday. It begins in late June and will run through July. The mall ride will move to 15th and 17th Streets during the festival.