Architecture is more than Corinthian-columned marble towers for wealthy people, and Doors Open Denver demonstrates the range and importance of public spaces for all socioeconomic neighborhoods — particularly in downtown Denver.
For the Denver Architecture Foundation’s annual Doors Open Denver, most events over the four-day celebration Thursday to Sunday were inspired by the “Destination Downtown” theme in the wake of downtown Denver’s most significant transformation in decades with the reimagining of 16th Street. With free and ticketed events, Doors Open Denver offers a range of happenings: guided insider tours of iconic downtown buildings, open houses at leading architecture and design firms, lectures, presentations, walking tours, a photography contest, Midcentury Modern trivia and a “lec-tour” of downtown Denver by Alan Gass, a Denver native, photographer and Harvard-trained architect who, now in his 90s, has a long view of the Mile High City.
Designing, building Common Ground
The standout pillar of this year’s event is known as the Common Ground.
“We produce Doors Open Denver each year to inspire Denverites to explore their city and to envision its future,” said Meg Tourborg, president and CEO of the Denver Architecture Foundation. “The Common Ground exhibition is a perfect opening to this year’s Doors Open Denver weekend.”
The Common Ground Community Design Project, a collaborative civic design initiative launched by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s office, also includes the University of Colorado Denver College of Architecture and Planning, the Lavender Hill Cultural District and the Denver Architecture Foundation. Led by Leyuan Li — assistant professor, CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning — over a 16-week studio course, CU Denver architecture students designed and built custom outdoor installations with the needs of five community organizations in mind…