Will Bruder’s Colorful Kimball Art Center Proposal is Powered By the Sun & Wind

This vibrant proposal for the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/kimball-art-center/">Kimball Art Center renovation</a> comes from Phoenix-based <a href="http://www.willbruder.com/" target="_blank">Will Bruder + Partners</a>. In their submission, the architects offer up a design that is both colorful and translucent. Bruder proposes to tie in the renovation of the historic Kimball Garage with a bright and shiny new exhibition space banded by a series of black and colored vertical strips. The center is topped with a new green roof and outdoor plaza along with vertical axis wind turbines and a photovoltaic system. Initial inspiration came from some of the original mining buildings in Park City, but the end result is very urban and hip, with art, sculptural and architectural influences.

Will Bruder + Partners are currently competing against <a href="http://inhabitat.com/big-proposes-twisting-timber-eco-tower-for-the-kimball-art-center-in-park-city/">BIG</a>, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/brooks-scarpa-conjure-up-an-airy-cloud-like-form-for-the-kimball-art-center-renovation/">Brooks + Scarpa</a>, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/sparano-mooneys-beautiful-kimball-art-center-proposal-takes-inspiration-from-aspens/">Sparano + Mooney Architecture</a>, and <a>Tod Williams and Billie Tsien Architects</a> to win the award to design the <a href="http://www.kimballartcenter.org/transformation-project">Kimball Art Center Transformation</a>.

This project includes the renovation of the historic center plus an expansion to create additional gallery, event and education space.

Bruder's plan seeks to reinvent the Kimball away from its small town status into an exciting, urban and hip space.

Drawing on local architectural influences as well as concepts from international artists and architects, the new KAC would be filled with modern designs and a 3 dimensional Möbius strip that defines the circulation from the inside to the outside.

Energy for the building will be generated with vertical axis wind turbines and photovoltaics.

The wind turbine tower located over the translucent elevator shaft features colored panels similar to <a href="http://www.olafureliasson.net/works/your_rainbow_panorama.html" target="_blank">Olafur Oliasson's Rainbow Panorama</a>.

The skywell references <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Graham" target="_blank">Dan Graham</a>.

The elevator or "artvator" references <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Turrell" target="_blank">James Turrell's light installations</a>.

A reference to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Irwin_(artist)" target="_blank">Robert Irwin</a>.

The exterior slatted cladding on the new space filters light into the gallery and offers glimpses out into the town.

From the interior, visitors can get a glimpse of the skyline through the slats.

A composite view of Main Street and the new Kimball Art Center.

Site plan of the KAC.

Daylighting and shadow analysis of the KAC.

Cross section of the KAC.

Basement floor plan of the KAC.

Ground level floor plan of the KAC.

Upper level floor plan of the KAC.

Mezzanine level floor plan of the KAC.

Will Bruder + Partner's model at the Kimball Art Center.

Will Bruder + Partner's model at the Kimball Art Center.

Will Bruder + Partner's model at the Kimball Art Center.

Will Bruder + Partner's model at the Kimball Art Center.

Will Bruder + Partner's model at the Kimball Art Center.

Will Bruder + Partner's model at the Kimball Art Center.

Will Bruder + Partner's model at the Kimball Art Center.