Imagine hiring a firm that fearlessly challenges the established assumptions, principals and standards that we have in society to create wildly innovative, iconic and timeless places. These spaces transcend the boundaries of good enough and open the door to great, significant and celebrated. Innovation without boundaries…unchained creativity that is then synthesized and implemented in pragmatic fashion. You would have a product that is not owned but rather preserved for future generations…you would have something envisioned and created by Blu.
We thrive in unexpected opportunities to innovate and inspire.
Land Planning
Remarkable Places
Landscape Arch
Fun Spaces
Urban Design
Livable Neighborhoods
Interior Design
Reconnect with family
About//
Taber D. Sweet // Principal of BLU
As with, perhaps, his name, there hasn’t been much that’s ordinary about the career of Taber Sweet. A graduate of Cornell University with a master’s degree in Real Estate and Construction Management from the University of Denver, Taber started his career in landscape architecture and land planning with Design Workshop in Aspen, Colo., working directly for several of the founding partners of Goldman Sachs, as well as a foreign ambassador to the United States. He learned early on that bold and courageous thinking coupled with tireless work and an unconventional approach often results in unparalleled excellence.
In addition to his award-winning design work, Taber is a triple-threat, with an extensive background in real estate development and investment — thereby offering his clients a distinct competitive advantage.
Creating exceptional spaces allows for extraordinary experiences, and Taber’s infatuation with problem solving invariably leads to distinctive, out-of-the-box solutions. He thrives in environments where ideas are generated through free-flowing dialogue and thought.
In his free time, Taber takes full advantage of his majestic surroundings on his mountain bike on a single track along the Front Range or carving it up on his telemark skis.
tsweet@bludesigngroup.com
Ariel Gelman // Principal of BLU
Ariel’s professional experience includes both architecture and landscape architecture. As an architect in Argentina, his portfolio consisted of high-end residential design and commercial-retail projects. Working mostly with private clients, Ariel’s responsibilities included complete execution of all phases of design; concept through construction, cost management, as well as public and private facilitation.
His current interests center on interpreting the essence of landscapes and translating their significance into meaningful designs that will fulfill both environmental and cultural requirements but also facilitate the meaningful interaction of users and visitors.
agelman@bludesigngroup.com
Cecilia Tanoni // Principal of BLU
A fusion of her passion for art and architecture, Cecilia Tanoni’s work is a rich expression of color and texture. At the heart of Cecilia’s philosophy is the belief that each of us is deeply influenced by our surroundings: at home, at work, and at play. Her ideal is to create custom designs that fit the nature of each unique space while tending to her clients’ specific needs.
Cecilia graduated from the Interior Design Program at the Art Institute of Colorado and upon completion of that program worked for renowned designer Heather Mourer at One Home Design. She opened her own design studio in 2008 and has dedicated herself to infusing her projects with her love of color, texture, unique furniture pieces, and custom design.
Cecilia works in close collaboration with her clients to bring out their individual aesthetic at every point in the interior design process, from concept development and space planning to construction observation and installation, and every point in between.
ctanoni@bludesigngroup.com
Services//
// We create great space //
We live in a virtual era of online socialization. Intangible environments with invisible human beings. Ethereal beings interacting with one another. No touch, no smell. Blu is in the business of creating environments where people connect, reconnect and interact. Our designs create opportunity for people to re-engage one another in order to experience remarkable moments in life. In this age of over-active smart phones and social media we believe in creating places that give people the chance to make a different choice. Everyone is looking for human interaction and acknowledgement with their nose in a keyboard. We take the “E” out of everything and by doing so, allow people to find the “very thing” they are yearning for. That’s the basis for our name. Blu…we even took the “E” out of it.
Land Planning
Landscape Design
Urban Design
Interior Design
// School of hard knocks with a gentleman’s polish //
Akin to our Design approach, we specialize in helping to shape the development and construction process for our clients by advancing the dynamic makeup of any project team by recognizing the value of each and every team member. Blu is not your typical adversarial Owner Representative. We engage the entire team and know that collaboration (not aggression) is the best way to build trust and foster a cohesive team as the project matures. Developing loyalty and professionalism among teammates is the only way to ensure a mutual willingness to offer help when it’s needed. As an Owner’s Representative, we specialize in making a very complex (and sometimes frustrating) process a lot more enjoyable. From initial implementation strategy to selection of a design team and contractors, Blu has been instrumental in helping our clients achieve their project dreams.
Project Management
Owner Representative
Construction Management
Preconstruction Management
Portfolio//
News//
The Wellshire
How do you re-position an aging apartment building which has been neglected for 20 years to attract a younger, more affluent crowd? We started by replacing the sun bleached baby blue panels with bright orange and warm gray. The Wellshire is the first major real estate development project along S. Colorado [...]
Black Sky Brewery
Blu was approached by the owner of this building to help his prospective tenant “make their dreams come true”. He had us at hello….we love working with start-up companies to help them strategize, design, approve, bid and build their dream. Our foundation of design combined with our experience in real [...]
Modern in Denver
http://www.modernindenver.com/2012/09/nowopen/ Please check out the most recent edition of Modern in Denver to read more about our Arapahoe Acres Residential Garden as well as a great article on some dear friends of ours (Blake and Brad) over at Open Studio Architecture (http://www.openstudioarchitecture.com/)
Contact//
Denver Office:
1238 S. Broadway
Denver, CO 80210
Office Phone: 720.505.3784
Taber Sweet: tsweet@bludesigngroup.com
Ariel Gelman: agelman@bludesigngroup.com
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