Milking It: Behind The Redesign Of Dairy Block In Denver

Dairy Block Denver by CRÈME Design

Dairy Block in Denver is the refurbished area in LoDo (lower downtown) that bridges the timeline from the historic Windsor Farm Dairy Building to a newly energized cluster of places to stay, eat and shop. The team at CRÈME/Jun Aizaki Architecture in Brooklyn was tasked with branding the new design overall. By 1920, Windsor was queen of the creameries, producing fresh, pure milk considered the very best by Cow Town’s most prestigious families. But over time, the block grew quiet.

The new micro-district houses The Maven Hotel, Warby Parker, a flower shop, a whiskey bar and Moo Bar, offering live music. Eateries include Kachina Cantina and Poka Lola Social Club, both also designed by CRÈME.

Dairy Block Denver

Denver’s first “activated alley” runs through the block, drawing pedestrians and showcasing art, including the “Spilt Milk” sculpture, a 30-foot-tall, 3-D giant milk can spilling milk onto the sidewalk, by George Peters and Melanie Walker of Boulder.

“We wanted to pay homage to the site’s rich history as a hub of production and trade. We really loved the brick. We used art, paint, color schemes and more to unite the old and new to create a sense of place,” notes Aizaki. The team focused on creating open areas inside and out. A lot of the storefronts open like garage doors, and the hotel space also flows out into the alley to create fluidity.

“Denver has such great weather and people like to be outside and keep their doors open, so we wanted a place where they can hang out and enjoy the weather,” the designer adds. Got milk? Out here, the glass is full.

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