Nov 9 2007
Studio H:T, the leading Boulder-based architectural firm with a focus on sustainability and high design, announced today that they have received the 2007 American Institute of Architects Colorado Honor Award, the highest recognition given by the AIA, for their Bonsai project. The project was cited by the awards Jury for its simplicity, sophistication, and elegant exploration of space and materials.
This site is situated on an extraordinarily long, narrow lot in a historic fabric interwoven with modern infill projects. The location has remarkable views of the Denver skyline and the mountains from the upper levels. The project resides in a transitional, up and coming neighborhood, desirable due to its proximity and access to downtown Denver's Union Station and the Platte River.
'Bonsai' is the Asian living art form of pruning and sculpting trees over many, many years. The residence, inspired by Bonsai, has two primary and distinct zones. The main box which is referred to as the 'bon' or tray, and the vertical volume referred to as 'sai' or creation. The driving concept is an excavated tray in which a slatted folded plane is inserted. This folded plane, which organizes the circulation of the residence, grounds itself in the basement and extends upward through the main and upper floors before transforming into the enclosure of the third floor sky parlor. This piece becomes the center of the experience as it bring light and texture down from the sky to the lower levels.
The lower floor consists of the service functions, a recreation room and bedroom suite. The main level contains entry, living, kitchen, dining and two bedrooms. The upper floor is reserved for the master suite and art / yoga loft. The sky parlor is the culmination of 'sai' experience with a glass box sitting room. The deck is the portal to solitude with city and mountains views and gives access to the Bonsai pruning station that attaches itself to the back of the sky parlor.