Anythink and City of Thornton are building a nature library on the Aylor Open Lands. This first-of-its-kind library will lower barriers to outdoor access and help people find their place in nature. Dream & Design was developed to educate the community on this project, engage customers in authentic and interactive ways, and to collect stories and ideas about what they think a nature library could be. Feedback will be used by Davis Partnership architects and THK landscape architects to inform the library’s design.

Anythink launched this immersive experience at Anythink Wright Farms where visitors learned about and contributed ideas for the future nature library. People of all ages created dioramas using natural materials, guided by a prompt related to one of 5 areas: boundless, wellbeing, environmental stewardship, heritage and create beauty. Biweekly, visitors responded to new prompts, and the exhibit evolved. The nature library will be situated on 15 acres of property and is anticipated to open in 2025.

• Educated staff and the public about Anythink’s approach to the nature library’s construction
• Gathered feedback to influence the library’s design
• Invited people to experience the essence of this new type of library

215 (goal of 100) dioramas were created by people from all walks of life, including participants of an AnyAbility program, which was designed for adults with disabilities. Davis Partnership architects developed a list of 13 takeaways derived from Dream & Design that will inform their design process.