The story of Denver's Zodiac House is a fascinating journey through architectural history, cultural shifts, and the modern-day revival of community spaces. This article delves into the origins of the Zodiac House, its architectural significance, and its current role as a vibrant venue for events and gatherings.
Denver Union Station. Source: Wikipedia
Architectural Roots: Fisher & Fisher
The architectural legacy of Denver is significantly shaped by the Fisher brothers, William and Arthur Fisher.
- Allen S. Fisher, moved to Denver from Clinton, Ontario, Canada, with his family in 1885.
- William became a draftsman for Balcomb & Rice in Denver in 1890 and then studied briefly with C. Powell Karr in New York.
- In 1892 he went into business in Denver as William Fisher, Architect.
After ten years in solo practice, mainly designing starter homes, he partnered from 1901 to 1905 with Daniel Riggs Huntington, who had also worked for Balcomb & Rice. During this time the firm designed increasingly expensive residences and also commercial buildings.
After returning to solo practice for a couple of years, he then partnered with his younger brother Arthur Addison Fisher from 1907 until his death in 1937. His son Alan B.
Read also: Understanding Lucifer's Role
Notable Works of Fisher & Fisher:
Fisher & Fisher left an indelible mark on Denver's architectural landscape, contributing to various iconic structures.
- City Park Pavilion (Denver, 1896), Spanish Colonial style. With John J.
- Frank L. Smith House (Denver, 1902), French Eclectic style.
- St. Stephen's Episcopal Church / Church of the Holy Redeemer (Denver, 1910), Gothic revival, one of only 3 churches known to have been designed by William E. and Arthur A.
- A.C. Foster Building (Denver, 1911): 12-story office building with art Nouveau elements, one of the first tall Denver buildings after repeal of an ordinance limiting heights to 9 stories. "[P]ossibly the most exciting and original skyscraper to appear in Denver prior to World War I." Now University Building. With Arthur A.
- Lorraine Lodge / Charles Boettcher Summer Home (Lookout Mountain, 1916-18), Rustic and Tudor styles, built of rubble fieldstone probably gathered at the site, with timber framing on the upper stories.
- Foster-Buell Estate (Cherry Hills Village, 1920), Colonial Revival style. With Arthur A.
- National Bank, later Guaranty Bank and Trust (Denver, 1921): 10-story office building with neo-classical and neo-Renaissance detailing, now Bank Lofts.
- Neusteter Building (Denver, 1924): 5-story department store, "one of the finest examples of Commercial Style architecture in Denver," now Neusteter Lofts.
- South High School (Denver, 1924), Romanesque style, "one of Denver's most distinctive schools," with a clock tower based on that at Santa Maria in Cosmedin, with the zodiac instead of numbers on the clock face.
- Beth Jacob / Isaac Solomon Synagogue (Lakewood, 1926), Moorish style, serving the Jewish Consumptives' Relief Society tuberculosis sanatorium and replacing a 1911 building destroyed by fire.
- St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Alamosa, 1926, extended 1930), Mission Revival style. With Arthur A.
- Ideal Building (Denver, 1927): Adaptation and extension of office building by Montana Fallis to bank (now Colorado Business Bank), with complete reworking of interior including creation of a bank vault (now a restaurant) and stylistic conversion adding detail to the Chicago-style exterior, including main entrance with marble buffalo heads and cast bronze doors weighing one ton each recalling those of Lorenzo Ghiberti for the Florence Baptistery and featuring bas reliefs of American Indian dancing.
- Tower of Memories (Wheat Ridge, (1928-): continuation in Modernist style of Gothic tower designed by Charles A. Smith. Fisher & Fisher.
- Belcaro / Phipps House (Denver, 1932), Georgian style.
Modern Revival: Zodiac Hause
Recently, a venue called Zodiac Hause has emerged in Denver, embodying a unique and inclusive community spirit. On a recent Friday, Zodiac Hause was brimming with the kind of nightlife energy you’d encounter at a camp in Black Rock City.
Zodiac Hause Interior. Source: Pinterest
The bass from the back room was palpable as glittery club-goers queued up for drinks at the front bar, gathering supplies before surrendering to the spacious dance floor. Others were lounging on bean bags and plush couches in an adjacent room, saving themselves for the late-night surge as incense permeated the air in swirling clouds colored by violet, red, pink and blue lighting.
The owners met through their shared love of turning a simple event into an unforgettable, inspirational moment. “We wanted to do a different kind of party - an experience,” Dancer recalls. “There’s a lot of amazing music and people in the city, but when you travel to other cities, there’s a different feel. And we both felt there’s an extreme lack of that here.” So the duo decided to start promoting pop-ups under the moniker Zodiac Hause, offering a unique, music-based experience once a month at such venues as Banshee House, Void Studios and ReelWorks.
Read also: The Meaning of Aries Zodiac Flowers
Introduced not long after the pandemic, the events offered Denver’s eccentric Burner community a reliable place to find like-minded individuals. The organizational aspects, such as finding a venue and scheduling an available artist to the more hands-on activities, such as loading in equipment and breaking it down, it was all becoming too much work for several hours of partying.
“And then you pay your staff and continue on with your life, and then whatever money you make goes to book another artist,” Dancer adds. “It’s excruciating; it’s exhausting.”
“Gabe found this place through some sort of business relationship, and because it was available, it just became a viable thing - and almost overnight, so we had to jump on it,” Dancer recalls.
That was in early December, and by the end of the month, the duo had transformed the former LowDown Brewery and adjacent Vital gym into a playa playhouse, complete with a music venue in the back.
As the venue finds its footing, the owners are working on a membership model for Zodiac Hause. But in the meantime, the doors are open starting around noon for remote workers and networking, with events and concerts happening each weekend in partnership with nonprofits and other likeminded organizations.
Read also: Criminal Minds: Unmasking the Zodiac Killer's Legacy.
Events also include vendors selling their wares in the front lounge area and a wide array of non-alcoholic drink options from local makers. “We want to support the community, and nonprofits are systemically underfunded, so we’re trying to partner with a couple nonprofits…and trying to understand if music-led entities and music-adjacent nonprofits could have some sort of symbiotic relationship,” Dancer explains.
Zodiac Hause brings that same intention to the music it showcases, which is distinctly curated. “The music is very important,” Dancer emphasizes. “Music that taps into more natural sounds - organic, tribal. It feels more tapped in and more holistic and more complex and beautiful. It works in the city, on the beach, in all these different types of situations.”
When Zodiac Hause’s lease ends in September (the property is slated for redevelopment), Dancer hopes that it can lengthen. “We have a good change in our business model” since the pop-ups, he says. In the meantime, the venue will continue doing what it does best: bringing high-quality events to the inclusive Denver Burner scene.
“It’s kind of like a clarion call to our community,” Dancer concludes.
Ocean Prime: A Modern Social Hub
Located in Downtown Denver on the corner of 15th and Larimer Street, in Denver’s historic Larimer Square, Ocean Prime is an ideal place to socialize, talk business, celebrate and indulge. From our main dining room, to our lounge, five stunning private dining rooms and seasonal outdoor terrace, guests can enjoy the vibrant energy of Larimer Square from any area of our restaurant.
At Ocean Prime Denver - Larimer Square, we deliver more than just incredible food and drinks: we create remarkable experiences. We pride ourselves on exceptional service and truly genuine hospitality.
Here is a table summarizing the key aspects of Zodiac House and Ocean Prime:
| Feature | Zodiac House | Ocean Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Denver | Larimer Square, Denver |
| Type | Event venue and community space | Restaurant and social hub |
| Atmosphere | Inclusive, community-focused, artistic | Elegant, vibrant, social |
| Key Aspects | Music events, non-profit partnerships | Exceptional food and service, private dining |