The bark of the quaking aspen

By Editorial Staff - 1 April 2025

On Denver’s modern skyline, the Populus, designed by Studio Gang with interiors by Wildman Chalmers Design, stands out as a tribute to the natural landscape of Colorado. With a design that combines organic elements with contemporary architecture, the building harmoniously blends into its urban context, serving as a link between the civic, artistic, and commercial districts, and offering a new social hub for the city.

The project takes its name from Populus tremuloides – the quaking aspen, a tree that’s come to symbolize Colorado – reflecting the deep connection with nature that permeates the hotel’s design. Distinguished by vertical grooves, the façade mimics the texture of aspen bark, creating an interplay of light and shade that changes throughout the day. The inspiration for the windows, on the other hand, was the marks left on the tree when it sheds branches during its growth. At the entrance, these openings reach a height of nine meters, giving guests the impression of stepping inside a hollow carved into a tree.

Hotel Populus | © Jason O'Rear, courtesy Studio Gang L’edificio si inserisce nel contesto urbano, collegando i quartieri civico, artistico e commerciale, e diventando un nuovo punto di riferimento nella città di Denver. Progettato con un marcato impegno verso la sostenibilità, promuove la mobilità dolce eliminando la presenza dei parcheggi.

Externally, the building is clad in fiber-reinforced concrete panels, giving it a luminous appearance and a natural white color. Made of concrete mixed with fly ash to reduce carbon emissions, the material also features inside, where it frames spaces with a simplicity that minimizes the use of finishes, creating raw and genuine visual impact.

At street level, a double-height lobby leads to an all-day restaurant, Pasque, and a coffee bar. Expansive concrete walls with large windows envelope the dining room. Decorated with recycled wood slats in different shades, the ceiling adds warmth to the space. A focal point of the restaurant is a curving bar counter finished with small sand-colored tiles and topped by a dark timber surface. Above the counter, illuminated drapery in golden tones forms the centerpiece of the space, adding an elegant and distinctive touch to the hotel. Completing the scene are leather armchairs, fabric benches, and stools.

Hotel Populus | © Yoshihiro Makino, courtesy Populus Toni caldi, che spaziano dal Cor-Ten al legno, scaldano lo spazio, mentre un lungo bancone in legno naturale funge da luogo di condivisione. L’interior design si pone in continuità con i principi della biofilia che sono alla base del progetto architettonico.

Upstairs is a fitness center and a versatile lounge area that doubles as an events space. The lounge features an earth-inspired color palette, with tones ranging from weathered steel to green, creating a versatile environment suitable for different uses.
A chandelier, with numerous brass lights that resemble autumn leaves, enhances the area and captures guests’ attention.

Spread across different floors, the hotel’s 265 rooms offer immersive views of the State Capitol, Civic Center Park, and the Rocky Mountains, bringing guests in direct contact with the natural beauty of Colorado. Some rooms have built-in window seats, making them places where guests want to spend time and get even closer to the surrounding landscape. The color palette is neutral, with light, sandy, and earthy tones punctuated by splashes of sage green. Tobacco-colored carpeting contributes to the warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Hotel Populus | © Yoshihiro Makino, courtesy Populus

On the top floor is the panoramic Stellar Jay restaurant, with an outdoor bar and terrace, offering views across the city. It features furnishings in bold colors, such as forest green and dark gray, while a chef’s table room is wrapped in warm tones and soft lighting, creating an intimate atmosphere. The bar area leads onto the terrace via large glass doors, creating a seamless dialogue between inside and out.

Populus Hotel | © Yoshihiro Makino, courtesy of Populus | The staircase leads to a lounge area, where light filters from above through a slatted ceiling.

Populus Hotel | © Yoshihiro Makino, courtesy of Populus | The hotel’s 265 guestrooms have windows inspired by the texture of poplar bark. Some rooms have integrated seating. Tobacco-colored carpeting combines with light, sandy tones and touches of green.

Populus Hotel | © Yoshihiro Makino, courtesy of Populus | Punctuated by Cor-Ten steel accents, the versatile second-floor event space features a brass chandelier that evokes the form and colors of autumn leaves, complementing the warm tones of the space.

Populus Hotel | © Jason O'Rear, courtesy Studio Gang | Well integrated into the urban context, the building connects the civic, art, and commercial districts, and is fast becoming a new Denver landmark. Designed with a firm commitment to sustainability, it promotes soft mobility by eliminating parking.

Populus Hotel | © Yoshihiro Makino, courtesy of Populus

Populus Hotel | © Yoshihiro Makino, courtesy of Populus | Metal elements modeled on flower petals are suspended from the ceiling at different heights. A wall of differently sized logs adds warmth to the space, reinforcing the poplar theme.

Populus Hotel | © Yoshihiro Makino, courtesy of Populus | All’ultimo piano si trova il ristorante panoramico Stellar Jay, con bar all’aperto e terrazza. La sala è arredata con poltroncine e panche imbottite caratterizzate da tonalità comprese tra il verde foresta e il grigio.

Populus Hotel | © Yoshihiro Makino, courtesy of Populus | The outdoor bar and lounge offer commanding views of urban landmarks, including the State Capitol and Civic Center Park.

Populus Hotel | © Jason O'Rear, courtesy Studio Gang | The outdoor bar and lounge offer commanding views of urban landmarks, including the State Capitol and Civic Center Park.

Populus Hotel | © Jason O'Rear, courtesy Studio Gang | A double-height lobby hosts a bar area and a large staircase with a striking curved design. Connecting the entrance area to the upper floor, the staircase adds dynamism to the entire space.

Populus Hotel | © Yoshihiro Makino, courtesy of Populus | The colors of different materials, ranging from Cor-Ten steel to timber, add warmth to the space, while a long natural timber counter is an ideal place for social mixing. The interior design embraces the principles of biophilic architecture that are the cornerstone of the project’s concept.

Populus Hotel | © Yoshihiro Makino, courtesy of Populus | Just off the lobby, the Pasque restaurant combines exposed concrete walls with a slatted timber ceiling. Elegant golden drapes hang above the curving counter finished with sand-colored tiles.

Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Client: Urban Villages
Completion: 2024
Gross Floor Area: 12,542 m²
Architect: Studio Gang
Interior Architect: Fowler Architecture &
Interior Design
Interior Designer: Wildman Chalmers Design
Main Contractor: Beck Group

Consultants
Structural: Studio NYL
Lighting: LS Group
MEP: WSP, CMTA
Acoustics: Arup
Landscape: Superbloom

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