The project is a renovation of a five storey turn of the
century cast iron building on historic Main Street Louisville. The Museum is a popular destination for local
art and craft appreciation and a must shop venue for the purchase of Derby
hats. Comprised of a total of 5 floors and approximately
27,000 square feet, this new facility has allowed all areas of KACF’s
programming to expand considerably. The
Design team, surmounting significant budgetary and structural restraints, was
able to provide a design commensurate with the creativity and vision that the
client had requested.The challenge of the
museum is its dual identity on the street: a tug of war of real estate between
presenting the museum or its sales gallery. The
solution employed the local talent of glass artists and blacksmiths to create a
long art glass wall that led to a sculptural stair and bench to begin the
gallery sequence. As the glass wall ascends the large atrium, the wooden
landscape of seats and stairs anchor the bottom of the beckoning view to the
second floor galleries.