Populus DENVER Urban Villages enlists Studio Gang to envision the first carbon-positive hotel in the USA, setting new sustainability standards from design through to operations. Words: Ayesha Khan • Photography: © Jason O’Rear (unless otherwise stated)
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n a hiking trip in scenic Colorado, acclaimed architect Jeanne Gang was captivated by the eye-like notches that climb the trunks of
the ubiquitous Aspen tree. So when she was later approached by sustainable developer Urban Villages to design the first carbon-positive hotel in the US, she knew she wanted to incorporate this native motif into the façade. Aptly named Populus after the scientific name for the deciduous tree, the construction, interiors, operation and lifecycle of this hotel seek to be a resounding test-case for the entire hospitality industry, proving that sustainability can, and should, play a starring role in every hotel project worldwide.