MAD, led by Ma Yansong, has unveiled the design of the "Vertical Canyon" (One River North) that is currently under construction. This is MAD's fourth US project and the second US residence to be built.

Denver is located in northeastern Colorado and enjoys the benefits of a rich natural environment: Colorado is one of the most popular mountaineering destinations in the United States; the average altitude of the entire city is about one mile, and it is known as the "One-Mile City", a typical American high-altitude city; to the west of the city are the Rocky Mountains; the South Platte River, which spans two states, runs through Denver.

"Vertical Canyon" is located in the city's art district River North (RiNo), close to the city center. The RiNo community has a large number of galleries, restaurants, and bars transformed from old traditional warehouses and factories. It is the most artistic and vibrant neighborhood in the city. Enjoying the magnificent natural landscape as the city background, as a new high-rise building in the RiNo community, "Vertical Canyon" extends and penetrates Colorado's diverse natural features - canyons, mountains, forests, streams and waterfalls, etc. into the city, witnessing the chemical reaction of the collision between urban innovation and urban nature.

The "Vertical Canyon" covers an area of ​​2,620 square meters and will provide 187 residential units on 16 floors. The northwest-facing facade of the building, facing the Rocky Mountains, splits from the facade like a Grand Canyon, spanning 10 floors.

The "cracks" are public spaces and balconies of residential units covered with drought-tolerant landscape plants, injecting organic nature and vitality into the RiNo community and Denver's urban skyline, and allowing residents to face the pristine nature of the distant mountains while appreciating the artificial nature in the city.

Starting from the "canyon" starting layer at the waist of the building, a hiking trail is designed on the facade of the upper 4 floors. Residents can go up and down along it to the public facilities in the building, such as the gym, public reception room, outdoor garden, etc. Climbing in the artificial nature of the city cleverly echoes climbing in the original nature.

The vertical shading louvers on the building facade not only provide shade but also soften the visual volume of the building. The roof terrace of about 630 square meters is equipped with a swimming pool, spa and outdoor garden, and the first floor of nearly 740 square meters will be a retail space.

Construction of the "Vertical Canyon" began in the fall of 2021 and is expected to be completed in 2023.

▲AD discusses node details with the owner

Construction site

“Vertical Canyon”
2019 - 2023
Denver, USA

Type: Residential, Retail
Site area: 2,620 sqm
Building area: 31,773 sqm
Building height: 66m

Partners in charge: Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano
Partners in charge: Flora Lee, Dixon Lu
Design team: Jon Kontuly, Edwin Cho, Horace Hou, Jie Peng, Evan Shaner, Qiu Yunfei, Alan Kim, Zeng Hao

Owner: The Max Collaborative
Uplands Real Estate Partners
Wynne Yasmer Real Estate
Zakhem Real Estate Group
Executive architect, landscape design, interior design, lighting design: Davis Partnership Architects
Structural design: Jirsa Hedrick Structural Engineers
Mechanical and electrical engineering: ME Engineers
Civil engineering: Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
Building skin consultant: Marx|Okubo Associates, Inc.
Energy model: Group 14 Technologies
Acoustic Consultant: Geiler & Associates, LLC
General Contractor: Saunders Construction