Culture Hub

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Culture Hub

Firm

Workshop—198

Type

Cultural › Cultural Center Pavilion

STATUS

Concept

Phoenix is a young, emerging city uniquely set in the Sonoran Desert. It is home to a variety of different cultures and people, all of which come to experience the same pioneer spirit which helped form the city centuries ago. Identifying the elements of the area which are unique to Phoenix was the first step in understanding how to approach a design rooted in its place. Framing these elements strengthens the connection between the individual and the city. The space helps enhance the relationship between the city, the desert, the sky, and the community.

The tower acts as a solar chimney passively cooling the space while promoting the reflection of the surrounding landscape and city. The procession up the tower features strategically placed apertures framing specific views (Camelback Mountain, city skyline, sunsets, etc.). The tower takes the traditional gallery experience and inverts it, making these framed views the artwork of the city.

The canopy provides shade for a space capable of hosting a variety of programs. For example, there might be an outdoor Latin American art gallery at the Roosevelt Row Culture Hub, while simultaneously an Irish Step-Dancing festival at the Warehouse District Culture Hub. The canopy celebrates the cultures of Phoenix and creates a space capable of rapid transition and possibility, while also producing energy through solar photovoltaic panels.