Populus - A Nature-Inspired Architectural Masterpiece in Denver

A striking new hotel in downtown Denver is seeking to bring Colorado's natural landscapes into the heart of the city by building nature-inspired design into its DNA.

The newly opened Populus Hotel, with its distinctive façade resembling the eye-shaped marks on aspen tree bark, represents an attempt to blend eco-conscious hospitality with ambitious architecture.

Designed by Studio Gang, led by architect Jeanne Gang, the 265-room hotel has made the native aspen tree – Populus Tremuloides – central to both its name and design philosophy.

The building's unique windows grow larger near public spaces, reaching up to 30 feet tall at ground level, then evolve in shape throughout the facade, creating a distinctive silhouette on the Denver skyline.

Inside, the design firm Wildman Chalmers has attempted to recreate the feeling of walking through an aspen grove, with different floors mimicking the forest floor, tree trunk, and canopy. The reception area, carved into a darker "nook," has a wood-shingled wall repurposed from beetle kill trees

The lobby features reclaimed wood slats from Wyoming snow fencing on the ceiling, while a sculptural piece made from almost 500 sheets of Reishi – a material created from mushroom mycelium – hangs over the entrance.

"Every single design detail has its own story – connecting visitors to nature within the hotel's bustling urban location," says George Prine, the hotel's general manager.

In keeping with its environmental messaging, the hotel has committed to planting a tree for every night's stay, while sustainable materials feature heavily throughout, including carpeting that biodegrades in landfills and headboards created from beetle-kill pine.

The art collection, curated by environmental activist Katherine Homes, focuses on works that "give a voice to the wild." Pieces include paintings by Cheyenne and Arapaho artist Brent Learned that honor the indigenous people who once lived on the site and a gallery wall of Navajo rugs dating back to the 1940s.

Even the elevators have been considered as part of the nature experience, playing recorded birdsongs from nearby Rocky Mountain National Park that change based on the time of day and season.

Stellar Jay is a celebration of color and light, inspired by the lush canopy of a treetop. Saturated colors and earthy tones in the furniture align with the restaurant's live-fire menus. Overhead, playful lighting sets the ambiance, including "The Canopy," a custom light installation that refracts light as if peeking through leaves.

The hotel is topped with Stellar Jay, a rooftop bar and terrace offering views of Denver's civic buildings and the distant mountains, alongside a series of hospitality suites.

This blend of high-concept design and environmental messaging is a fresh concept in Denver's hotel landscape, and will likely attract many who are looking to stay in something as unique as Populus.