This contemporary art museum is located in downtown Aspen, Colorado, which is famous for its ski resorts. To harmonize with the surrounding square brick buildings in the downtown, the exterior is covered by a woven screen made from Prodema, which is a fire-resistant material comprising hot-pressed paper and resin, surfaced with a thin wood veneer. The lobby space is placed at the top of the building, so visitors ascend to the roof level from the semi-outdoor stair or elevator to enjoy the views of the surrounding hills before descending down to the galleries. This sequence of rising up to the top of the mountain before descending was adopted because of its similarity to the motions of skiing.
