Pearl is a modern take on a boutique hotel, defined by the belief that place is a form of experience. Located in Boulder, Colorado, Modellus Novus looked to create a project that harnessed the place between earth and sky. The project is grounded in Boulder’s dramatic western landscape, but looks deeper into the region’s prehistory as a former seaway. The material and physical effects of water engulf the sensorial experience of the project. This, along with the city’s unique topography, serve as a backdrop to a more spiritual encounter.

Pearl is a 14-hotel room project centered on a landscape courtyard, with three restaurants, a speakeasy, and a water-forward spa. Conceptually, each floor is characterized by a unified physical experience. The ground floor is an open, generous, and seemingly continuous space that invites slow exploration and return visits. The floor’s center courtyard is an homage to the prehistoric Western Interior Seaway and serves to unite the spaces. The second floor is an intimate, introverted level meant to bring about personal corporeal and circadian awareness. The third floor is an outward looking spatial experience that ties us to long and celestial views. Characterized by a seeming absence of artificial illumination, poignant views toward the Flatiron mountain range, horizon and sky above mix with our sense of scent and touch.