Quilted Ecology , proposed by artist Paula Castillo, is a sculptural landscape designed to bring warmth, light, and connection to Golden’s new Police and Municipal Building. The artwork is inspired by Golden’s ongoing work to restore the Clear Creek corridor and by the city’s values of care, collaboration, and environmental stewardship.
The artist first connected to Golden as a young art student visiting the Colorado School of Mines. Looking through a microscope at a thin slice of basalt, she saw a colorful, quilt-like pattern hidden within stone. Quilted Ecology brings that sense of discovery to life through form, color, and light.
The Terrace
A gently tilted anodized aluminum canopy, patterned like a quilt and geology, includes perforations and dichroic glass elements that catch the sun and cast shifting colors across the ground. At night, soft amber illumination turns the canopy into a welcoming beacon.
The Plaza
Below the canopy, sculptural steel “plug” boulders and compost mounds made from Golden’s own soil create places for gathering, play, and reflection. The materials reuse local and industrial elements to symbolize renewal and resilience, with the mounds designed for long-term stability, stormwater filtering, and native plant growth.
Together, these spaces create a living fabric that ties the building, the landscape, and the community. Quilted Ecology reflects Golden’s respect for the environment and for one another—grounded, collaborative, and continually evolving.
