Our 40th Post! Celebrating Favorite Shapes in Downtown!

It won't be long unitl Doors Open Denver makes its 6th appearance on the Spring Must List. This year, the chance to visit over 80 locations you probably don't know much about is Saturday and Sunday, April 17th and 18th. And, the theme this year is "Denver Redux/Denver Re-Do", new uses for old spaces. Doors Open Denver is presented by the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs and The Denver Architectural Foundation.

That got us to thinking. What are some of our (and send us yours) favorite shapes of Downtown Denver. Great spaces and buildings. Here are just a handfull, six actually. We'll get back to Doors Open with more closer to the event.

1. The Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by David Adjaye. You can spend plenty of time looking at the fine installations here, but you can spend just as much time admiring the piece of art that is the buidling itself. Every space has its detail, its view. The building is as open and light and large in feeling for the footprint as one could be. And, the feeling, design and views from the rooftop cafe are a perfect way to pass a Saturday afternoon. Not to mention the fascinating drawings by A.G. Rizzoli which are part of the current exhibition there.

2. A space created to hold together the several buildings of the Denver Center for Performing Arts is a beautiful and alive people space. The Galleria is the center feature of this, the second largest performing arts complex in the country. Walk through every chance you get.

3. The D & F Tower. This is a fixture everybody would miss if it was suddenly not there. And, that almost happened years ago in the misguided days of DURA. But, we are lucky, and for those of us who don't like watches, it keeps perfect time.

4. The 56-story Republic Plaza building is iconic in its own way. Views of Downtown always seem to focus there, especially when, on special occasions they play with the lights to spell out messages in the windows!

5. The Red House, on Wazee Street. This modernist residence is a more-than-compatible addition to the historic buildings in the LoDo neighborhood. Jim Olson, of Olson Kundig, Seattle, designed this home for the Mayers. Olson's firm specializes in new construction in historic areas. The building is striking and pleasant to look at from the outside. If Jan Mayer ever invites you to see the inside of this residence/gallery, don't miss it. It is truly a privilege. And, she is a most gracious hostess.

6. And, of course, Union Station. Check our previous posts for links to all the news about the re-development project, bound to get under way any day!

In the Cafe atop the Museum of Contemporary Art:, photo by Diane Huntress