China’s MAD Architects has opened One River North, a 16-storey, mixed-use development in the centre of Denver, Colorado, which contains a crack through the building, displaying a set-back interior inspired by the region’s natural surroundings.
Located in Colorado’s River North Art District, One River North’s "cracked-open canyon” is a four-story space containing 13,000-sq-ft of landscaped terraces inspired by the natural erosion found in a slot canyon.
It has 187 rental units over 15 floors and a 9,000-sq-ft ground-floor retail space.
The carved-out core stands out against the smooth, mirrored texture of the rest of the structure’s massing and will include outdoor seating, shared rooms and fitness facilities.
The canyon contains a trail between the building’s 6th and 9th floor and culminates in an alpine-inspired landscaped rooftop terrace, complete with a pool, spa and garden, with views across Denver and the Rocky Mountains.
The project’s top floors emit the sound of cascading water that can be heard from the street.
The building is intended to add to the revitalisation of Denver’s North Art District, a former industrial area now used by artists and outdoor enthusiasts.
The project has earned “Fitwel” certification, now claimed by fewer than 1,000 buildings worldwide. It’s given to projects that promote physical and mental well-being.
Ma Yansong, MAD Architects’ founder, said: “Imagine living in a building yet feeling as though you’re immersed in a natural landscape—like living within a canyon itself.
“Imagine our three-dimensional urban spaces, where high-rise office buildings and high-rise hotels introduce sky gardens, canyons, and waterfalls.
“In this vision, the future city is not just made of concrete boxes anymore; it becomes a place that integrates and connects people with nature.”
The project is not MAD Architects’ first foray into nature inspired design, having previously worked on a mirror-clad cloud-inspired sports centre in China’s Heibei province and a wave-like cultural complex in Guangdong.
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