After the City Hall planning department denied the most recent designs for renovating Park City's Kimball Art Center, the KAC has announced that it plans to leave its long-time Main Street location. A landmark since 1976, the KAC is hoping to add 15,000 square feet and an interior renovation that aims to mark the Utah ski town as "an emerging national arts destination." Way back in 2012, the famed Danish architect Bjarke Ingels (BIG) unveiled a massive 76-foot tall log cabin design that twisted into the Park City skyline and towered above town. After "the public" disliked the height of the timber structure, BIG went on to their next design: a (boring?) 46-foot modern slanted concrete structure some characterized as a snow plow. With the snow plow denied by City Hall, the Kimball Art Center has decided to forego appeal and move.
The Kimball Art Center Executive Director Robin Marrouche explained in a statement to the Park Record, "We have been dedicated to making every effort to stay in Old Town because we feel the arts are a crucial piece of our local culture, and will help continue to make Park City an international destination. Unfortunately, the parameters we are required to work within did not allow this to come to fruition."
Despite making it farther into the city's design review process, the second design from BIG allegedly did not relate to the historic Kimball Art Center building "aesthetically, visually, or historically." The Park City planning director, Thomas Eddington, said that BIG's design was not compatible with the historic style of Main Street and wouldn't contribute to the "national historic district" in downtown Park City.
Instead of renovating their current Main Street location, the KAC is now looking for options outside of Old Town Park City. No word on what BIG's role will be if the plans move to a new location. What do you think, Curbediverse?
· Kimball Art Center foregoes appeal, looks for new location [Park Record]
· Bjarke Ingels's Art Center Not Historic Enough for Park City [Curbed Ski]
· Sloping Concrete or Twisty Timber: Which Works in Park City? [Curbed Ski]
· Kimball Art Center's Revamped Design Plans Revealed [Curbed Ski]
· The 18 Best Hot Spots for Park City Eating & Drinking, Feb '14 [Curbed Ski]
· All Kimball Art Center Coverage [Curbed Ski]