Urban. Sleek. Open. Inviting. Elegant. Located within The Jacquard hotel in Denver’s dynamic Cherry Creek North neighborhood, this 3,500 square foot restaurant is tailored to perfection.

Inspired by the locale, increasingly considered the place to be for a younger, forward-thinking clientele, the sleek, high-end interior design concept is intended to pique curiosity and invite exploration.

Close collaboration with and interactivity among the client, architects, interior designers, consultants and owners has enabled the creation of a cohesive, uniquely appealing establishment that engages with the neighborhood and will quickly become Denver’s newest gathering place.

Situated at the base of Aspen Mountain in The Little Nell hotel, Ajax Tavern has been a famous après ski destination since opening in 1989. This recent refresh follows an initial renovation by R+B in 2007. It is one of over 20 projects R+B has collaborated on with owner Aspen Skiing Company in the last 10 years.

Addressing present and long-term requirements, primary goals of the renovation include improving the overall circulation of the restaurant and ensuring maximum flexibility within the space. A new corner entry allows for better flow into the interior and improves the restaurant’s presence from the gondola plaza. The new entry leads directly into the bar area, further enhancing the tavern feel and community atmosphere. The previous entry remains for service access between the patio and dining room.

Inside, enhancing the seating flexibility Rowland+Broughton kept existing booths and banquettes but added a new central, divisible banquette set on casters that may be reconfigured or moved away to accommodate private functions and groups.

With the goal of brightening the interior, the color palette was lightened and existing wainscoting painted. New caramel-colored leather Sling Bar Stools by Industry West complement natural light oak tabletops, and a custom mirror hung by leather straps reflects exterior light and activity of guests entering the space. A higher banquette overlooking the main dining area was also added along a rear wall for some of the best seats in the house.

Throughout the restaurant, handcrafted details reflect the ethos of Colorado and enhance the overall effect of the new décor. Banquettes feature new custom design, fabricated by Aspen Upholstery that transitions from leather to fabric. Pendant lights were updated with matte black “Allied Maker” fixtures with brass interiors and leather accents. The rear dining room wall and back wall of the semi-open kitchen was refinished with handcrafted Industrial Glass tiles from Decorative Materials.

Additional interior details include new black leather Sling Barstools by Industry West at the blackened steel bar and the community table, and sustainable Interface carpet that softens acoustics and discourages slipping for those in ski boots. Updates on the patio include new Tuuci dual cantilever umbrellas and Outdoor Euro dining chairs.

The White House Tavern is operated by Hillstone Restaurant Group and located on a prominent street corner in Aspen. The miner’s cabin was originally constructed in 1883 and is a historic landmark in the City of Aspen including two historic buildings and the alley shed also on site.

R+B worked extensively with the City of Aspen Historic Preservation Commission to restore and rehabilitate these structures which earned R+B and Hillstone the 2014 Historic Presentation Commission Award for Renovation.

The interior fireplace was kept in its original location within the cabin. The interiors are warm and inviting, with reclaimed wood floors, an exhibition kitchen, wood paneled walls and banquette style seating. A sensitive and complementary modern brick addition on the backside of the cabin houses the exhibition kitchen. The new brick patio and landscape pay homage to the scale of the building.

A fresh, forward thinking aesthetic was utilized to rebrand the highly lauded restaurant in The Little Nell as Element 47. Sleek, modern architecture designed to complement sophisticated culinary and wine programs was warmed by wood accent screens, upholstered banquettes, new lighting systems, and acoustical wall and ceiling panel treatments.

Nestled on Aspen Highlands, Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro welcomes all mid-mountain visitors to an intimate European inspired dining experience. The historic abode cabin milieu invites guests for lunch, dinner and après ski experiences. Interior renovations include expanding the dining room seating capacity, creating a private dining experience with sweeping views of the Maroon Bells and improving back-of-the house environment. Paying homage to Aspen’s rich alpine history, interiors are refurbished with wood paneling, robust alpine furniture and unique mountain memorabilia.

The Rusty Parrot Lodge is a long-loved luxury destination in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The site is set on the edge of town, at the convergence of the town grid and the rural back drop of Flat Creek and East Gros Ventre Butte. Across the street is Miller Park, a full town block of open space for community recreation gatherings. This dynamic location invites the architecture to be urban, but at the same time respectful to its immediate context.

A devastating fire in November 2019 burned the Rusty Parrot Lodge beyond repair creating a series of challenges for the design team. The Harrisons, owners of the Rusty Parrot Lodge, challenged the design team to re-capture the quirky spirit of the original Rusty Parrot building while conforming to the new form-based zoning standards required in the downtown core. The design team integrated roof decks on the upper levels which allowed the structure to step-back in scale and mass to compliment the transition from urban to neighborhood context. These unique outdoors spaces become guest amenities and a sense of discovery to enjoy the views of the park, adjacent mountains and wildlife. Signature elements from the former lodge were reinterpreted with arched bottom trusses in the gables featuring “crow’s feet” cross bracing, as well as arched openings within the stone walls indicating a hierarchy of movement.

Another ongoing challenge was the extremely compressed schedule required to attain approvals, permits, and break ground on the new hotel all within a year of the fire. Ongoing coordination and cooperation with the Town of Jackson has been critical to meet legally required submittal dates and public noticing requirements. The design team’s approach was centered around a sensitivity to town’s form-based standards, history of the site, and thoroughness of the submittal documents, culminating in a unanimous approval of the proposed design.

The primary design goal was to create balance, both in time and in place. Inspired by the great lodges of the West and the rugged, natural beauty of Jackson, the architecture is rooted in place balancing both the urban and rural context of the site. The stone base anchors the building and serves as a remnant of a former life on the site. Emerging from the stone walls are strong, three-story gabled roofed forms that purposely step in and out creating a rhythm of balconies along the facade. The form is a balance between old and new, a timeless desire to remain rooted to the past yet relevant through the future.

Another design goal is hospitality. The Rusty Parrot is known throughout the country for its western hospitality and curated experience. That commitment to hospitality is woven throughout the fortified yet approachable architecture. The strong street frontage is interrupted by a porte cochere providing a protected vehicular arrival and departure. The gourmet restaurant feels like a good friend’s home with an open, exhibition style kitchen, a roaring 2-sided fireplace that is shared by the cozy den with a curated bar. The south facing courtyard conceals the underground parking below and brings the surrounding nature and sunlight into the property resulting in a tranquil garden respite for guests.

Sustainability is an on-going theme of the project with LEED and WELL criteria being major design drivers. The design team’s analysis of the sun studies was informative to the footprint of the building and respective program. The underground parking structure nearly doubled the usable area of the site, allowing the internal courtyard and surrounding rooms to enjoy southern exposure throughout the year. A natural aquifer deep below the site provides an opportunity for geothermal cooling, reducing the amount of roof top equipment and associated noise pollution. Biophilic experiences are integrated throughout the project with direct and indirect access to nature using light, views, materials, and patterns to evoke feelings of nature. Natural and local materials from the exterior extend to the inside, merging the surrounding landscape into the design.

A central theme of the project was a sense of discovery, an integral feeling of the original Rusty Parrot. A series of found moments are distributed throughout the hotel encouraging guest to explore and wander. An open grand stair is the central and defining element of the lobby and connects the lobby to the guest rooms above. The atrium is crowned with a public deck, dubbed the parrot’s roost, providing views to Miller Park and the surrounding landscape, once again connecting the Parrot to its time and place.

After a nationwide search we found an architectural firm, Rowland+Broughton, with a deep portfolio proving they were capable of capturing the residential feel and with the technical expertise from hotel design experience, and the bonus of experience in historic hotel renovations and preservation of western architecture.

Working with Rowland Broughton we assembled a team of consultants that has put together a plan that we think is strongly reminiscent of our heritage as the Rusty Parrot Lodge and representative of Jackson Hole. The team’s responsiveness to the intent of the LDR’s & design guidelines has been impressive. – Client, Brandon Harrison – Hotel Manager

Alongside Nobu Matsuhisa and the ownership team, R+B set out to create a space that continues to evolve the concept of the Matsuhisa culture. Reflecting on their Japanese travel experience, R+B Principals created a clear design concept that is centered on traditional Japanese culture: thoughtful, unique, humble and purposeful. The dining experience is elevated with exquisitely detailed materials of a muted, natural palette.

I really enjoyed the process from beginning to end with the entire design team of very talented people. Great job! We all created a killer restaurant for thousands of people to enjoy for many years to come. – Todd Clark, Matsuhisa Partner and Director of Operations

An Aspen landmark for over 125 years, Hotel Jerome has been thoughtfully expanded while remaining loyal to its revered history and authentic character. As part of a recent multi-programmed project, which also included the design of a three-story, multiple-suite and gathering place addition, the design team restored the adjoining historic Aspen Times Building, the highlight of which is the new underground speakeasy bar, Bad Harriet.

Named after the wife of early Aspen developer Jerome B. Wheeler, who built the hotel and after whom the Hotel Jerome is named, Bad Harriet bridges Aspen’s past and future through the conversion of the historic 1904 Aspen Times Newspaper Building. Inspired by the Victorian period in which the building was constructed, and in collaboration with TAL Studio, the same interior design firm the team worked with during the 2012 full interior renovation of the Hotel Jerome, the interior palette, millwork, finishes and furnishings also take their cue from the original hotel. Mirrored wall panels with polished accents pair with painted wood trim to create a sultry atmosphere for the intimate, 55-seat space, while a Bruna Terra Leather stone bar adds a solid contemporary edge.

The restoration of the historic Aspen Times Building provides a timeless addition to the Hotel Jerome. Extraneous exterior additions were removed, and a steel super-structure was installed to allow the original building to once again stand on its own. Original wood siding was preserved and re-detailed. Historic windows that had once been hidden or removed were replaces with new wood windows. A new metal roof was added to reflect the historic vernacular. A new sliding barn door system was added to the original garden-facing wall to create permeability or enclosure as needed.

One of the great hotels of the American West, Hotel Jerome is on the National Register of Historic Places (1889) and is renowned for its relaxed elegance. Under the management of Auberge Resorts, the project boldly moved forward with an ambitious renovation that speaks to the heritage of the property. The renovation honors its historic legacy through architectural preservation while unveiling a contemporary amenities. This layered approach to design has resulted in numerous awards.

In line with R+B’s fundamental belief in historic preservation and the creation of timeless architecture, the design team embraced the task of addressing two visually opposed historic buildings, the Hotel Jerome and the Aspen Times Building, for this singular addition and restoration project.

A true Aspen landmark built in 1889, Hotel Jerome’s stately brick façade set the challenge of designing a multiple-suite and gathering place addition that responded to and highlighted the existing structure in style and demeanor. The restoration and repurposing of the adjacent historic 1904 Aspen Times building as a speakeasy and entertainment venue meant respecting and enhancing its informal, historic wood façade. In addition, redesigning a central garden courtyard encompassing a pool and providing outdoor restaurant seating, presented additional challenges.

Designed as an extension of the courtyard, the new three-story Suites building features cedar siding specially stained to complement the red brick siding of the existing hotel. An informal, Accoya hardwood screen on the façade functions as a vertical garden trellis. Interior palette, millwork, finishes and furnishings take their cue from the original hotel, for which R+B completed a full interior renovation in 2012.

The restoration of the historic Aspen Times Building provides a timeless addition to the Hotel Jerome. Extraneous exterior additions were removed, and a steel super-structure was installed to allow the original building to once again stand on its own. Original wood siding was preserved and re-detailed. Historic windows once hidden or removed were replaced with new wood windows. A new metal roof was added to reflect the historic vernacular. A new sliding barn door system was added to the original garden-facing wall to create permeability or enclosure as needed. Interior architectural design for the speakeasy, called Bad Harriet, was inspired by the Victorian period in which the building was constructed. In collaboration with TAL Studio, interior spaces feature complementary yet relevant materials and detailing, including mirrored wall panels with polished accents, Bruna Terra Leather stone bar top and painted wood trim.

Overall, the interior program of the project includes eight hotel suites, a speakeasy bar, two meeting spaces, two catering kitchens, two means of egress, an elevator and stairways.

Renovations to the courtyard area, which previously turned its back on the Aspen Times Building, included raising the interior portion to improve accessibility and repositioning the pool. Now offering a 360-degree experience, including improved connectivity to Main Street, the courtyard has become locally known as “Aspen’s Front Yard.”

Over my 30-year tenure at Hotel Jerome, the hotel has been thoughtfully reinvented while remaining loyal to its revered history and authentic character. Working with the team at Rowland+Broughton once again has ensured that this latest expansion and renovation will continue to honor its legacy, while enticing and accommodating new generations of guests. R+B’s appreciation of and sensitivity toward historical architectural preservation is exemplary, as are their design skills and professionalism. I’m certain our new spaces will be a welcome and exciting addition to the place we all hold so dear. – Tony DiLucia, General Manager, Hotel Jerome

W Hotel’s first mountain escape in North America and the first new luxury Aspen hotel in 25 years, 126,000 square foot W Aspen and the Sky Residences at W Aspen builds on Aspen’s rich history and skiing heritage. Inspired by the infusion of a significant number of iconic ski chalets in the area in the 1940s-60s, R+B sought to design a modern interpretation of a traditional chalet. In addition to serving as architect in designing the modern chalet, our team played an essential role in the entitlements process and community outreach.

W Aspen is a great example of how the true spirit of a property can be maintained while elevating the experiences of the next generation of travelers and residents. The iconic chalet style was first introduced to Aspen in the 1940s and, over time, the style has been slowly eroded. The new design as a modern-day translation and renaissance of the chalet architectural style, with its sloping roofs, natural high-quality materials, many articulations and public accessed rooftop, weaves into the fabric of Aspen and contributes to the base of the mountain. The variety of amenities and thoughtfully designed public spaces at W Aspen will provide a venue and place to stay that encourages youth and fun. We are proud to be a part of such an amazing project. – John Rowland, AIA, Principal