With its artsy, easy-going vibe, Clayton Members Club & Hotel in Denver aims to shake up the establishment in its tony Cherry Creek neighborhood. Conceived by Denver-based developer BMC Investments as an exclusive-yet-inclusive members’ club, the destination, operated by Aparium Hotel Group, draws inspiration from the Soho House model.
Clayton is a hybrid of no-cameras-allowed spaces that include private meeting rooms, a fitness area, a rooftop pool, and bars and lounges; a hotel with 63 bright and airy rooms; and three public dining venues. Among those is the casual all-day grab-and-go OAK Market; Of A Kind, inspired by the Colorado River, with an interactive horseshoe bar and a chandelier that nods to modernists like Frank Lloyd Wright; and the tucked away Five-Nines speakeasy, where an undulating ceiling feature takes cues from the Colorado landscape.
Timber details clad the bar in a members’ only space, topped by an architectural lighting fixture
Underpinned by a desire to cultivate creativity and connection among people from different cultural backgrounds, the club’s mission is rooted in welcoming diverse professions, ages, LGBTQ+ identities, ethnic groups, and personal interests through balance and parity in the membership base. Nearly half of the 40-strong voting membership committee identifies as Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and/or represents different gender expressions, ages, and industries, and they are encouraged to invite their contemporaries to join Clayton. The $3,000 annual fee is reduced for members under 30 and free for contributors to its art displays and activity programs.
With previous collaborations on Cherry Creek’s Halcyon hotel, as well as numerous other projects, including BMC’s own offices, the developer challenged AvroKO to craft spaces that foster social engagement. “We created various parlors for intimate discussions and promoted art from local artists that continues to rotate,” says Daniel Hong, managing director at AvroKO’s San Francisco office. “Working on our second Cherry Creek hotel allowed us to push the boundaries for more creative materials and colors, as well as add in an eclectic mix of locally sourced vintage and contemporary FF&E.” Take the central chandelier in the lobby that recalls perfectly formed crystal icicles or the candleholders found in the fireplace berth of a seating area, which build on the curated mix of collected finds.
A large communal table in a coworking lounge complements a mural by artist Marcela Flórido
AvroKO defined three design pillars as foundations for the spaces’ materiality, forms, and colors: Denver Modernism leads to timber details characterizing local residences; Colorado Strata references the mountainous terrain’s sediment and stone layers; and the Gold Rush injects the sparkle of jewel tones and minerals. The result is a design that features angular, light timber millwork alongside highly textured finishes, polished marble, and leather upholstery to create a warm and inviting atmosphere enlivened by colorful local art.
“The challenge of creating an inclusive members’ club is extremely difficult,” says Hong. “Art and design are great first steps for engaging the community and pushing for honest dialogue about diversity and inclusion.”
This article originally appeared in HD’s April 2022 issue.
