“Like
any form of art, architecture is a process of communication where the designer encodes the messages and the perceive decodes the same. The communication succeeds when intention match the experience. Every form of art has its own tools, media and palette. The tools of architecture are: the form and massing, light and shadow, texture and colour. Its medium is the space and the palette is elements of space making such as columns, walls, floor, roof, fenestrations.”
Going through the day to day activities of running a business, meeting clients’ needs, and adhering to building codes the architect’s “encoded message” is often put on the back burner of their designs. One of Studio K2’s goals for 2017 was to bring the art back into architecture, and bring the artistic message back to the forefront of our minds as we satisfy the needs of the business, clients, and building authorities for each of our projects.
One way in which the office plans to get back in touch with our artistic side is by getting back to our roots, go out into the neighborhood and spend some time sketching. Studio K2’s first stop was Union Station, where we took the afternoon, hung out and sketched whatever inspired us.
Union Station was first fabricated in 1868 to connect Denver to the main rail line in Cheyenne, Wyoming. To support the growth and increase in railroads at the time, the station was built at 17th and Wynkoop by architect A. Taylor in May of 1881. Since then the station has gone through a series of renovations and reconstructions with the
help of various architects and styles. (Source.)
In 2001, plans to redevelop Union Station and the surrounding neighborhood began with the goal of creating a “multi-modal transportation network with transit-oriented private development.” Today, Union Station is the catalyst to the local light rail, while the building itself is home to the Crawford Hotel, a Great Hall acting as “Denver’s Living Room,” and other public and transit facilities. (Source.)
Studio K2 has its own personal history with the grand structure. From 2009 to 2010, SK2’s office was located in Union Station. As Kevin explains, “It was the best Class C – office space in Denver. I miss my 18 foot windows next to my desk.” The studio was asked to leave when the building was to be converted into the hotel. After which, the office was moved to the Garden Level (basement) of 1408 Wazee – “until we saw the light on April 1st (No Foolin’) of 2016 in our current location.” (-K2)
Union Station was a great place to jump back into sketching and drawing as there were so many things to be inspired by. Some were interested in the people and the constant coming and going of traffic, making you think back to before all the development when there was not a lot around. Likewise, some studio members and Kermit the Frog became the muse to other’s drawings. While, others were intrigued by the little elements and details that decorate the historic building greeting people to Downtown 
Denver. “I practice how I see the world through my hand.” (-K2)
Overall, the artistic afternoon was a great way for the office to rediscover our artistic message and brush some of the rust off our hand drawing skills. We hope that as we do more sketching, the office overall will improve our sketching skills and inspire others in the profession to work to bring art back into architecture.
“Thus in essence art and architecture are inseparable. Art finds its place in architecture through structure, spaces or surfaces and inspires from nature, materials engineering or even the philosophy.”