Denver, CO | On the Boards

Set discreetly behind a 1925 Craftsman bungalow in the heart of Denver, this 1300-square-foot artist studio and accessory dwelling unit was conceived as a quiet intervention—an architecture of presence and restraint within an urban context. The brief called for a new structure that would serve creative and domestic functions while maintaining a respectful dialogue with the existing neighborhood.

The design is rooted in a vocabulary of essential forms and tactile materials. A low, grounded cube—rectangular in plan—is capped by a gently tapered upper volume housing a storage loft. The architectural expression is reduced and precise, avoiding gesture in favor of proportion, light, and material resonance.

Brick and raw steel were selected for their enduring quality and contextual relevance, offering a subtle nod to the neighborhood fabric while asserting a contemporary clarity. These materials, left unfinished, will age and deepen with time—quietly recording the passage of seasons and use.

Spatially, the project pivots around the threshold between old and new. An oversized sliding glass door dissolves the barrier between interior and exterior, establishing a generous opening to a newly composed courtyard. This space, defined by the original residence and the new structure, becomes a place of reflection and interaction—a gentle void that emphasizes light, texture, and the sensory experience of moving between buildings.

Our intent is to create a space which is not an object of display but a vessel for living and making. It offers calm, silence, and subtle transitions.