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.