Lowry Reading Garden Receives Denver Mayor's Design Award

16 Dec 2009

Denver, CO – The Denver Mayor's Design Awards were announced November 12, 2009, and the Lowry Reading Garden, located at 5th Avenue and Trenton St., received the honor, “Home Is Where the Art Is.” Only 15 projects in Denver were honored in six different categories. Projects are chosen that are innovative, creative and beautifully designed. The award honors those who make design excellence a priority.

Design Workshop created a system of parks and public spaces for the 180-acre northwest quadrant of the Lowry community. During the design process a small parcel that transitions from a residential area to office buildings was discovered. Design Workshop proposed making the area into a hinge that would help draw people to the town center and help encourage them to circulate throughout the community.

“The Reading Garden is one of Denver's hidden gems,” said Lowry Foundation Executive Director Stacie Loucks. “The design is ingenious in that there are so many different gathering spaces throughout the park to meet with friends or to simply read a book in beautiful settings.”

The park design produced a park and plaza with a wealth of sculptural forms, a host of literary quotes and several sculptures from Lowry board members' own gardens. This intimate space, owned and maintained by the Lowry Community Master Association, is cut by a formal walkway running east-west and a more natural path that crosses north-south.

Landforms, plant materials and hardscape differentiate a story-time area, a cluster of individual reading nooks and a tiny amphitheater arranged around a central gathering plaza, whose seating walls are embossed with book-like shapes on which residents can have the names of their favorite novels etched. The walls, lawn and walkways are graced with quotes.

The category of “Home is Where the Art Is” recognizes projects that contribute to the urban environment; reflect the style and personality of the owner, while making a positive and sensitive contribution to the neighborhood fabric; and contribute to the appreciation of the arts.

The park opened to accolades from both residents and visitors in June 2005.