This book by Ann Komara, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, showcases the acclaimed landscape architect Lawrence Halprin’s urban renewal effort for downtown Denver in the 1970s. Drawing on the rugged beauty of the city’s natural surroundings for inspiration, Halprin created a signature landmark of fountains, walls, and berms that served as an urban promenade and an oasis from the surrounding streets. This monograph honors the legacy of Halprin’s original work by presenting the most comprehensive documentation available of the park’s conception, construction, and use before its total redesign in 2003. It features new photography, archival drawings, and original documentation.
An essay by Halprin, the last he wrote before his death in 2010, appears as an epilogue. There are also essays by Laurie D. Olin, FASLA, Partner, OLIN, Philadelphia, PA and an introduction by TCLF president Charles A. Birnbaum, FASLA. The publication was funded in part by a grant award from the State Historical Fund, a program of History Colorado, the Colorado Historical Society.