S*PARK
Provided: Master Planning + Full Service Architecture + Interior Design
Location: Denver, CO
Completed: Fall 2018
S. Park is the redevelopment of one square block in the Curtis Park Neighborhood in Denver Colorado. The goal of this dense, mixed-use multifamily residential development was to create workforce housing in central Denver that encourages the homeowners to lead a dignified sustainable lifestyle.
The project de-emphasizes the automobile by providing all required parking in a single consolidated underground parking garage removing the need to provide an alley in the middle of our site. This important planning move opened the center of our development to a tree filled park, urban gardening plots, and a secure place to enjoy the outdoors.
Located at 26th and Lawrence, the site marks a transition zone between commercial and residential streetscapes. This transition was reflected in the density and mixed-use character of the project.
The project aims to honor the neighborhood context through materiality, form, and rhythm, while increasing density through multi-family living. The homes vary in scale from 400 square foot studios to three-story three-bedroom units. They are not grouped by unit size, but democratically spread out throughout the site so each building acts as a conglomerate neighborhood street on its own, varied in scale and form. Brick of three different colors clad the façades, which are broken up with a 50’ cadence to evoke the scale of houses in the surrounding residential neighborhood.
Much of the brick at S. Park is reclaimed. The various patterns and uses of brick create interest and texture, as well as support specific functions. Strategically omitted bricks at balconies and outdoor stairs allow light to pass through as well as a view out. Turned bricks on the ground level facades encourage greenery to climb. The brick and glass brick wall system that wraps the southern façade of the Japanese restaurant, Uchi, is a completely new wall system designed and engineered in the tres birds shop.
A ground level urban garden occupies the southeastern corner, adjacent to a 7000 square-foot elevated greenhouse, which captures enough natural light to grow microgreens throughout the year. The greenhouse utilizes passive heating and cooling strategies, with automatic venting and thermal blankets that stretch across the interior on cooler nights. This low energy, high tech glass building has a strong presence that carries the corner of the site. Uchi, the restaurant below the greenhouse, is one of the main buyers of the produce produced and allows for a visually connected ‘farm to table’ experience.
The park is home to an outdoor kitchen and dining area, a grass lawn with porch swings, a fully planted storm water runnel and detention pond, and tall poles supporting homes for birds and bats. The building façades facing the park are clad with white to reflect even sunlight into the green space, and allow the trees, grasses, and birdhouses to bring vibrancy and color to the outdoor room. Galvanized steel downspouts and custom angled channels bring storm water from each roof down to the park, watering the plants and percolating back into the earth.
A 200-kwh rooftop photovoltaic array offsets the site’s energy use, which is primarily electric. The project utilizes high-efficiency LED lighting inside and out, High performing low-E windows, low VOC interior paint, and advanced insulation levels.
Tres Birds has played a unique role in the development of S. Park, acting as Master planner, architect, and interior designer for the entire scope of the project, as well as general contractor for Uchi and the “Art in the Park” swing and birdhouse installations.
Location: Denver, CO
Completed: Fall 2018
S. Park is the redevelopment of one square block in the Curtis Park Neighborhood in Denver Colorado. The goal of this dense, mixed-use multifamily residential development was to create workforce housing in central Denver that encourages the homeowners to lead a dignified sustainable lifestyle.
The project de-emphasizes the automobile by providing all required parking in a single consolidated underground parking garage removing the need to provide an alley in the middle of our site. This important planning move opened the center of our development to a tree filled park, urban gardening plots, and a secure place to enjoy the outdoors.
Located at 26th and Lawrence, the site marks a transition zone between commercial and residential streetscapes. This transition was reflected in the density and mixed-use character of the project.
The project aims to honor the neighborhood context through materiality, form, and rhythm, while increasing density through multi-family living. The homes vary in scale from 400 square foot studios to three-story three-bedroom units. They are not grouped by unit size, but democratically spread out throughout the site so each building acts as a conglomerate neighborhood street on its own, varied in scale and form. Brick of three different colors clad the façades, which are broken up with a 50’ cadence to evoke the scale of houses in the surrounding residential neighborhood.
Much of the brick at S. Park is reclaimed. The various patterns and uses of brick create interest and texture, as well as support specific functions. Strategically omitted bricks at balconies and outdoor stairs allow light to pass through as well as a view out. Turned bricks on the ground level facades encourage greenery to climb. The brick and glass brick wall system that wraps the southern façade of the Japanese restaurant, Uchi, is a completely new wall system designed and engineered in the tres birds shop.
A ground level urban garden occupies the southeastern corner, adjacent to a 7000 square-foot elevated greenhouse, which captures enough natural light to grow microgreens throughout the year. The greenhouse utilizes passive heating and cooling strategies, with automatic venting and thermal blankets that stretch across the interior on cooler nights. This low energy, high tech glass building has a strong presence that carries the corner of the site. Uchi, the restaurant below the greenhouse, is one of the main buyers of the produce produced and allows for a visually connected ‘farm to table’ experience.
The park is home to an outdoor kitchen and dining area, a grass lawn with porch swings, a fully planted storm water runnel and detention pond, and tall poles supporting homes for birds and bats. The building façades facing the park are clad with white to reflect even sunlight into the green space, and allow the trees, grasses, and birdhouses to bring vibrancy and color to the outdoor room. Galvanized steel downspouts and custom angled channels bring storm water from each roof down to the park, watering the plants and percolating back into the earth.
A 200-kwh rooftop photovoltaic array offsets the site’s energy use, which is primarily electric. The project utilizes high-efficiency LED lighting inside and out, High performing low-E windows, low VOC interior paint, and advanced insulation levels.
Tres Birds has played a unique role in the development of S. Park, acting as Master planner, architect, and interior designer for the entire scope of the project, as well as general contractor for Uchi and the “Art in the Park” swing and birdhouse installations.
