CLASSICAL DENVER:

City Beautiful

Denver, Colorado has earned a place in the American imagination as a city uniquely integrated with nature. Initially built hastily in response to a natural resources boom—GOLD!—Denver matured and grew significantly during an exceptional period of urban design, arts and architecture now known as the American Renaissance (1876-1917). As a result, the city’s core civic buildings and infrastructure reflect classical design ideals set in harmony with nature.

This presentation is a visual celebration of Denver as a sophisticated and fully realized expression of civic art worthy of rediscovery and appreciation. Contributions by nationally recognized architects and planners including Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr, George Kessler, Edward H. Bennett, along with Denver-based luminaries Reinhard Schuetze, S.R. DeBoer, Jacques Benedict, Marean and Norton, among others, will be considered. Historic drawings and images will be paired with new photographs and videography created by the presenter to reveal the enduring beauty Denverites have inherited and steward as the city continues to grow.

Speaker: Tommy Matthews

Tommy Matthews is an Associate Principal at Denver-based Tryba Architects where he leads the Branding & Experiential Design studio. A storyteller at heart, Tommy has researched, written and produced several short films through the ICAA including In Your Neighborhood: Denver Mountain Parks and a short on Jacques Benedict, one of Denver’s most accomplished architects from the early 20th Century. Tommy serves as a board member for the Institute of Classical Architecture Rocky Mountain Chapter, Historic Denver, and the newly-formed Museum of Denver.

A REGIONAL INTENSIVE REFLECTION:

Intensive in Classical Architecture: Denver

The ICAA Rocky Mountain Chapter, in collaboration with the ICAA National Office, hosted a Regional Intensive from August 5th through 12th in Denver. This eight-day immersion in the ICAA’s core curriculum is designed for professionals and students with limited time who seek a methodical introduction to the language of classical architecture. Participants learned how to draw, identify, and compose with the classical elements to form an understanding of the basic tenets on which the classical tradition is founded, culminating in a studio project in which students use the classical canon in the design of a small building.

This video, produced by Cooper Productions for the ICAA Rocky Mountain Chapter, provides a look at the experience of the Intensive as shared by both participants and instructors. The Intensive was hosted at the historic Oxford Hotel, and included offsite measured drawing excursions to Denver Civic Center and Cheesman Park.