Building Skin: First impression and functional beauty

In recent years, several existing Denver buildings in tight infill spaces have been given new exterior skins. One project of note designed by Gensler is the Pura Vida Spa building in Cherry Creek which formerly housed the Tattered Cover in a nondescript stucco low rise. Many architects around the country are exploring options "outside the (building) box" in both existing and new construction. The Gehry Partners' Beekman Tower recently profiled in Architectural Record and located in Lower Manhattan is a standard skyscraper shape made amazing with curving steel curtain walls. Jean Nouvel's 100 Eleventh Avenue, also in Manhattan, used tilted fixed and operable windows for their hybrid curtain wall that seems to shimmer on the skyline. Far from being simply eccentric, these buildings are attractive, highly functional and, as with the second skin on this remodeled home featured on the GreenSource website, can provide passive energy saving features.