Denver Single Stair Apartments

We have developed a design for a smaller scale apartment building that fits within the existing urban fabric in central Denver. Unfortunately, many multi-family buildings in Denver are too large and are out of scale with the neighborhoods around them. It is critical to push back on the trend of demolishing whole blocks of buildings to build big multi block behemoths and make use of small vacant lots and scale development to fit in existing neighborhoods while increasing density and affordability.

These smaller, carefully fit buildings respect and enhance the existing context of neighborhoods surrounding the downtown Denver core. We designed a small apartment building on a narrow site to show that that a small apartment building type can work better and preserve the scale of the city. We see the task as a balancing act between increasing residential density on this typical small Denver lot and mitigating any negative imposition on the neighbors and on the street itself. It is also a balancing act between affordability and the quality of the living experience.

Maximizing the good effects of natural light, views, decks and balconies along with integrating trees and gardens into the experience of the building are key to the success of the design. We utilized three primary materials; glass, steel and reclaimed brick masonry, plus the lattice of the vertical solar arrays to craft a building that fits materially into the historic neighborhood. Every effort was made to create a building front made of volumes rather than flat planes in order to meld the public and private activities of street and structure. For the residents, the see-through, walk-through glass lobby welcomes and invites them into their homes. The upper and lower roofs are accessible to residents for outdoor space and the size and layout of the units allow for adaptation for different size families and the needs of people with disabilities.

Designed in Collaboration with David Lynn Wise Architect.