Designed by MAD Architects, One River North (ORN) is a 16-story mixed-use tower that embraces MAD's approach of blending the built environment with natural elements. ORN is characterized by a dramatic 'landscaped rift' that cuts through ten stories of the building's façade, creating terraces with lush greenery inspired by Colorado's natural terrain. The design echoes the Rocky Mountains and aims to transform urban living by introducing biophilic design principles to the city.
Guided by the sounds of cascading water audible from the street, residents traverse the building's canyon trail from the 6th to the 9th floor, becoming immersed in a curated environment inspired by the Colorado foothills and canyon ecosystem.
The building includes 187 rental units with floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies. It also features a rooftop pool, spa, garden, fitness centre, and yoga studio. A 9,000-square-foot ground-level retail space and underground parking are additional building amenities.
Soft surfaces of the Canyon, a carved-out, four-story amenity space inspired by natural erosion and designed to resemble a slot canyon, were designed by MAD to contrast with the clean geometric lines of the building's overall massing. The feature includes over 13,000 square feet of landscaped terraces that appear suspended in open space and provide stunning views. The canyon-like structure running through the façade offers an immersive, natural experience, merging indoor and outdoor spaces and blurring boundaries between nature and architecture. The Canyon climbs across the building's façade and terminates at a landscaped rooftop on the sixteenth storey.
ORN exemplifies MAD's vision of a city as a 'man-made landscape' promoting harmony between urban development and nature. Kevin Ratner of the Max Collaborative, one of the project's developers, describes the building as a model for future urban living, merging comfort with the benefits of nature.
The innovative project reflects MAD's growing influence in the US and is expected to be a new benchmark for integrating architecture with ecological aesthetics.
