ChroMassif
Overview
Our proposal for the River North Promenade artwork focuses on three key concepts. History of the place, the geography of the area, and the people of Denver are all linked together in this project. Each of the three concepts relates to a specific physical aspect of the project. The history of industry in the surrounding area has influenced our material choices, the form of components and assemblies are inspired by the geography of the Rocky Mountains, and the new vision for the RiNo district is expressed through the vibrant use of color throughout the project.
Details
Completed: Proposal
Medium: Painted Steel
Location: Devner, CO
Size: 55’ x 13’ x 7′
Description
The title ChroMassif combines Chroma, referencing the colorful nature of the project, and Massif, a compact group of connected mountains forming an independent portion of a range. The material pallet for this proposal is inspired by the history of the River North area as an industrial hub. The use of basic structural steel products such as angle, plate, and expanded mesh draw ties to older industrial factories that formerly thrived in this area. These materials become the building block of the project and create a system of components that can be repeated in different orientations to create overall form and effect.
A mountain range is a collection of landforms with unique characteristics that come together to create the overall range. The aggregated assemblies in the project create an abstracted panorama of the Rocky Mountains. The skyline of the Rockies is a visual identity of Colorado and we felt that it was important to show this powerful landscape in the project. As seasons change, the mountains, trees, and lakes become repeatedly covered and exposed. The cladding of the project is representative of different snow patches, exposed rock faces, and clusters of trees that are found amongst the mountain views. These panels also rely on the form of the basic building block components, unifying the project further.
The future of the RiNo area is written all over the walls. The color and vibrancy in this district directly relate to the citizens and visitors that occupy its space. The use of color in this project is important as it takes the industrial material pallet that had cues from the past, and transforms it into the vibrant, new identity that the arts district has created. The connection of these concepts into a singular cohesive project strengthens its ties to the place.