Denver has a "dual" soul: a vibrant and cosmopolitan metropolis on the one hand, a gateway to some of the most majestic landscapes in the United States on the other. And it is precisely from the attempt to create a synthesis between the vibrant urban energies and the region's rich natural heritage that Populus, the recently completed hotel by Studio Gang in town, springs out.

The thirteen-storey tower fits into a triangular plot, in keeping with the rich tradition of flatiron buildings, and includes a double-height lobby, restaurant and coffee shop on the ground floor, a fitness centre and event space on the second floor, 265 rooms from the third to the thirteenth floor, and rooftop spaces for private events and a terrace with restaurant and bar open to the public.The volume is designed to relate in a balanced manner to the neighbouring buildings, eroding at the corner to the top to allow the gaze to capture the cityscape and the mountains from the tables of the rooftop terrace.

A passionate homage to Colorado’s endemic ecosystems is the distinctive feature of the composition, legible in the iconic façades. 

On the exterior, bright, light-coloured, fibreglass-reinforced etched concrete panels, arranged homogeneously on three sides and corresponding to the size of the rooms, are perforated by holes of irregular shape and size that evoke the characteristic eye-shaped “scars” that form on the trunks of the aspen tree (populus tremoloides), typical of the area, as the tree grows, and the branches fall off. 

At the base, the "eyes" turn into arches that frame the entrances and create a connection with the surroundings; in elevation, they deform to become full-height openings or to accommodate incorporated seating inside. Special “eyelids” moulded into the concrete protrude according to orientation to protect the glazing from sunlight and channel rainwater.

Special emphasis is placed on environmental sustainability. The compact form favours reduced consumption and the unusual (for a hotel) decision to forego any parking space promotes alternative mobility. The use of low-emission concrete mixes and materials with high recycled content reduces the carbon footprint. Inside, intentionally “unfinished” spaces declare a rough but welcoming character, where the (few) finishes are derived from recycled materials, from reclaimed Wyoming snow fencing for the lobby and service ceilings, to leather veneer for the lifts and room desks. The green roof promotes insulation and provides an attractive habitat for wildlife, enhancing urban biodiversity.