One-of-a-kind McDonalds in downtown-Denver. This building was obviously repurposed from another use. If you know, can you leave a comment?
Or even guess, if you like?
Inside, McDonalds did not take advantage of the high ceiling and the windows that go with it, but clearly, there is no other McDonalds that looks like this!
Vertical panelled walls that extend maybe 20 feet high topped with
6 foot high windows and an accordion-fold roof. With a row of basement
windows below. The scale seems gloriously oversized.
What was this place originally? Help me out, Denverites!
The Mile High Tower, the last remainder of world renowned master
architect I.M. Pei’s 1956 creation, the Mile High Center. The glass
and metal design is in a style referred to as Miesian, from the name of
architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
Mile High Tower formerly opened to a plaza on the east side, which
included a pool covered with a hyperbolic arch. The plaza is gone
and now the building seems lost as part of the Northwest Plaza.
Another famous Colorado loss of I.M. Pei design was the hyperbolic paraboloid roof of the pavilion at Zeckendork Plaza (now Adam’s Mark Hotel).
Some of I.M. Pei’s work in Colorado survives, such as the 16th Street Mall in Denver and the outstanding N.C.A.R. building in Boulder.
The photo above shows the Amoco Tower reflected in the glass.
The black and white aluminum panels interweave to form a unique
pattern. Lights pointing upward highlight the verticals.
The Boetcher Mermorial Conservatory, 1966 by Victor Hornbein
and Ed White Jr., part of the Botanical Gardens, Denver’s most
well known Usonian structure.
Victor Hornbein went on to build structures for Denver’s Botanical Gardens for another 15 years. This amazing plexiglass and concrete ribbed building is the Tropical Conservatory from 1971. It is 51 feet high and is built on the principle of the
inverted catenary curve!
The master plan for the gardens was layed out by landscape architect Garrett Eckbo and now features over 30 themed gardens by world famed garden designers.
These distinctive light concrete light fixtures made an appearance in Woody Allen’s science fiction film Sleeper, from 1973.
Victor Hornbein included many abstracted floral designs in his building, including these in the entry to the Memorial Conservatory.
The organic poured concrete designs continue through to the interior, which is lit with indirecting lighting.
More floral abstracts of stained glass and wood. . .
A beautiful interior fountain of the same unified organic design of poured concrete and pink block.
The remarkable Usonian structure was immediately recognized for it’s artistic value and was placed on the National Historic Registry for protection 7 years after it’s completion.
A beautiful Usonian-style design, the Dammann House, 1966 by famed Boulder architect, Charles Haertling
This wild butterfly roof home was designed by Hobart Wagener, 1957
This house has had very little modification, and seems to currently be under restoration!
Great news, as it sits on a large piece of prime Boulder real-estate, so there was concern that it would be scraped!
Another Charles Haertling, the Willard House from 1961. You can see some of the unfortunate, controversial construction placed far too close to this treasured house.
This construction has stopped, but it is a shame to see the hillside destroyed, especially after such careful, thoughtful placement of the Haertling structure.
This incredible building seems to go beyond Usonia. It is mind boggling to think how such an intricate design could have ever been committed to paper!
The Ross-Broadway Library, Usonian design by Victor Hornbein, 1951
Victor Hornbein was Denver’s premiere Usonian architect
It is unusual to see Usonian-style libraries. This one was designed very much in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright.
This library was saved from destruction by dedicated preservationists
The designs for the window framework are fascinating, the doors have similar designs.
Eaves painted white. . .
Hornbein’s most famous surviving work is Denver’s Botanical Gardens
