18
/ BUILDING DIALOGUE / DECEMBER 2015
by
Joy Spatz, AIA
Jim Olson, FAIA,
is a principal with Olson Kundig in Seat-
tle and architect for the new Kirkland Museum of Fine
& Decorative Art, which will be located at 12th and Ban-
nock streets in the Golden Triangle. Kirkland Museum
is currently located at 13th and Pearl and has one of the
most important displays of international decorative art
in North America with more than 3,500 works on view.
About 700 works by more than 230 Colorado and regional
artists are shown, as well as a retrospective of Colorado’s
distinguished painter Vance Kirkland (1904–1981). It is the
passion of Hugh Grant, director and curator, and his wife,
Merle Chambers. See more at
.
JS: Can you provide insight to the vision and the big dreams
that fueled the choice to relocate Kirkland Museum to
Golden Triangle?
JO:
Kirkland Museum today is the original studio for
Vance Kirkland. After Mr. Kirkland willed his studio to
Hugh Grant, Hugh expanded the collection to encompass
furniture, objects and decorative arts collection togeth-
er with works from Colorado artists. Hugh’s vision is very
unique. It’s unlike any other museum in the country. Be-
cause his vision has always been to build a collection that is
relatable to the community, locating it in the Golden Trian-
gle provides us an opportunity to join this emerging muse-
um district, engage in the energy there and offer a different
scale and a smaller, more intimate experience within the
neighborhood. We think there will be a synergy between
our visitors and the existing visitor population, enriching
the experience for visitors and the neighborhood.
The collection has outgrown
the original studio and the big
dream and vision is to build a
new location that can accommo-
date the collection and also Hugh’s
vision for displaying art in settings
that help to tell the story by extract-
ing influences that interplay be-
tween art, furniture and daily objects.
In recent years, the popularity of
the museum has exploded to include
visitors from around the world, some-
times busloads. The new museum will
be 38,500 square feet of gallery, event,
café and gift shop space allowing for a
variety of public uses beyond tours. What’s really unique
is that we are physically moving the existing Vance Kirk-
land studio building to the new site. You can imagine how
complex this is. The studio is brick and requires an ex-
haustive effort in coordination between design, construc-
tion, city, roads, traffic, etc.
JS: Can you describe the architecture and what’s unique
about the project?
JO:
Each museum has its own personality and Kirkland
Museum expresses the artistic personality evoked and in-
spired by the collection itself, especially the decorative arts
collection. Its scale is homelike and the collection is both
familiar and unique. Hugh curates the exhibits, the gallery
space, and offers an intimate and engaging opportunity
for visitors to see the influences and interplay between art
and decorative objects.
Jim Olson
Olson Kundig,
Architects
Leading the Way
Golden Triangle Beckons Kirkland Museum
Rendering courtesy Olson Kundig
Kirkland Museum after it relocates to the Golden Triangle
