Architect John Patkau helped design the Audain Art Museum in Whistler, British Columbia. On Thursday, he’ll present on the challenges and rewards of developing iconic buildings in resort towns at the Aspen Art Museum, which has faced its own share of pushback from residents.
Patkau says his firm had to design a building that fit the character of the town. Some Whistler residents had expressed concerns about the idea of a 56,000-square-foot museum.
Patkau Architects designed a facade made of dark metal and wood. It’s built into a thick grove of hemlock trees that sometimes camouflage the building.
"We deliberately developed building forms that were responsive to the environment," he said.
Local wood was used in the project, and the museum has a sloped roof typical of the area.
In his lecture, Patkau will go over some of his firm’s projects, and discuss the key role that play and experimentation take in their designs.
