UNUM collaborative

UNUM collaborative www.unum-collab.com Located in Denver, CO. The collaborative was founded on the principle that all great design must originate from the collective.

UNUM: collaborative (pronounced ooh-nuhm and meaning "one") is a fluid group of architects, designers, visionaries and craftsmen. The office approaches design with a critical intent that challenges the established paradigms of architecture and design. Their work encompasses a variety of scales and media, and blends the domain of art, architecture, industrial design and fashion. At the core of thei

r design explorations is the desire to stimulate the senses and engage the user socially, intellectually and physically, while generating functional and beautiful solutions.

Nestled in the heart of Paonia, Colorado, this new bookstore + café project celebrates everything that makes the North F...
04/28/2026

Nestled in the heart of Paonia, Colorado, this new bookstore + café project celebrates everything that makes the North Fork Valley so special—organic farms, orchards, vineyards, and a vibrant creative community.

When our clients approached us, they saw an opportunity to design not just a café and bookstore, but also a hub for connection. Thoughtfully integrated, the bookstore and café support one another while hosting events from author readings and cider tastings to live local music.

Inspired by the charm of Paonia’s historic downtown, the design draws from traditional architecture while prioritizing function, warmth, and flexibility for community-driven experiences.

We’re honored to be part of this project and can’t wait to see it come to life. Stay tuned for updates as the project unfolds!

Now for something a little more distinctive. This marina home located in Maryland layers classic East Coast design with ...
04/02/2026

Now for something a little more distinctive. This marina home located in Maryland layers classic East Coast design with an easy, lived-in feel. Soft neutrals, light woods, and subtle brass accents reflect the surrounding docks and sailboats, while open sightlines keep the water in constant view.

More to come.

We’re excited to share updated renderings of a new single-family home currently in design for the Berkeley neighborhood....
03/30/2026

We’re excited to share updated renderings of a new single-family home currently in design for the Berkeley neighborhood. The project reinterprets the traditional ranch typology through a composition of three programmatic volumes, subtly carved and eroded to create moments of light, air, and connection. These strategic voids within the massing form internal light wells and intimate outdoor spaces that draw daylight deep into the home.

Situated on a standard urban Denver lot, the design prioritizes inward connections and carefully framed views. A sequence of clerestory windows brings soft, controlled daylight into the interior while minimizing direct sightlines to neighboring properties. The home is also gently elevated above the street, which further protects privacy and allows natural light to pe*****te the lower level, creating a brighter and more connected living environment throughout.

Excited to share a few updates from a new custom home build taking shape in Superior, Colorado.Sited across three parcel...
03/28/2026

Excited to share a few updates from a new custom home build taking shape in Superior, Colorado.

Sited across three parcels, the home is designed to settle quietly into the surrounding neighborhood while creating a sense of inward sanctuary and connection to the landscape. Portions of the house step a half level into the earth, forming sunken walkout patios that bring light deep into the lower levels while keeping sightlines private. These tucked away spaces create the perfect setting for a contemplative study or quiet office.

A series of tiered planter walls and privacy walls soften the home’s relationship with the street. Together they help mediate the verticality of the structure, establishing a strong horizontal datum that anchors the architecture to the landscape.

Does hunger ever strike you in the middle of the garden tool aisle? Soon you’ll be able to get a sandwich in the middle ...
03/26/2026

Does hunger ever strike you in the middle of the garden tool aisle? Soon you’ll be able to get a sandwich in the middle of picking up a new digging spade, at this sandwich shop we’re designing in a local hardware store.

Our approach takes advantage of the function and aesthetic of ready-made and utilitarian materials like industrial shelving, pegboard, and concrete blocks. We can’t wait until this opens later this year- stay tuned!

We’ve been a bit quiet on the social channels lately, but only because we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes on some...
03/16/2026

We’ve been a bit quiet on the social channels lately, but only because we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes on some exciting new projects. Today we’re sharing a few updates from several custom homes that are currently under construction.
Each of these houses began with a strong guiding concept, carefully developed to connect the architecture back to its neighborhood context while creating a rich and layered experience for our clients.

Through an emergent design process, each project gradually develops its own architectural language that acknowledges the history and character of its surroundings while allowing space for thoughtful departure from historical styles. The goal is not imitation, but a conversation with the past that results in something distinctly contemporary and personal.

From material choices to spatial organization, every project reflects a careful balance between responding to place and crafting something uniquely meaningful for the families who will live there.

We’re excited to begin sharing more of this work as it continues to take shape in the field.

If you haven’t heard from us in a couple of weeks, we apologize - many of our team members are serving time for design-r...
01/03/2026

If you haven’t heard from us in a couple of weeks, we apologize - many of our team members are serving time for design-related offenses. We’ve posted the official Log of Design Offenses here for transparency’s sake. What can we say? Our passion for design drives us to excel, but occasionally lands us on the wrong side of the law — or at least the zoning code.

We hope you’ve had a more relaxing holiday than we have, and if you’re waiting on a call or email, rest assured we’ll respond promptly once we’re released on good behavior.

We’re certainly looking forward to a clean slate and a fresh start in 2026!

We have recently begun designing a new food hall set within a barn for a residential community in Brighton, Colorado. It...
11/29/2025

We have recently begun designing a new food hall set within a barn for a residential community in Brighton, Colorado. It marks the third food hall we have worked on this year, and the second to find its home inside a barn.

Our goal is to create a warm and welcoming gathering place that fosters social connection, invites a sense of exploration, and celebrates great food and drink, all while preserving the distinctive experience of stepping into a spacious, light-filled barn.

We look forward to sharing more as this project continues to take shape in the months ahead.

We’re excited to share progress on our Two Tower House in the Sunnyside neighborhood. Drawing inspiration from tradition...
10/03/2025

We’re excited to share progress on our Two Tower House in the Sunnyside neighborhood. Drawing inspiration from traditional building forms while embracing a more modern massing strategy and floor plan, the design seeks to merge urban and rural archetypes into a cohesive whole. has done an exceptional job bringing the exterior to life, particularly with the custom chevron siding and heavy vertical timber battens. We’re looking forward to the next phase as the interior spaces begin to take shape.

After a short pause from social media, we’re back and excited to share a series of new projects in the coming weeks.We’r...
09/22/2025

After a short pause from social media, we’re back and excited to share a series of new projects in the coming weeks.

We’re thrilled to highlight a particularly special one: our collaboration with Alterra Mountain Company at , where we were invited to design for three distinct locations on the resort. This specific effort begins with the transformation of an existing ski patrol station into a hidden, exclusive cocktail bar. Anchored by a remarkable exterior patio, the project is envisioned as both a daytime retreat and an evening destination—a glowing beacon on the mountain. Arriving by funitel to the historic Gold Coast Lodge, guests will experience sweeping views up and down the slopes, framed by firelight and the soft illumination of the bar.

We’ve titled the concept The Portal. Inspired by the volume and expansive windows of the space, the design seeks to balance grandeur with intimacy. A single extruded form serves as the organizing gesture; splitting, shifting, and folding to create passageways, gathering niches, and moments of repose. This gesture evolves into a rhythm of slatted surfaces that seamlessly transition into cubbies, storage, and architectural elements, uniting functionality with sculptural presence.

Stay tuned for more updates on this project and others unfolding at Palisades Tahoe.

Address

1490 N. Lafayette Street, Suite 408
Denver, CO
80218

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+17204672947

Website

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