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Palm Desert Bus Shelter
Palm Desert, California
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The Palm Desert Bus Shelter utilizes
concrete
in a unique manner. | The Palm Desert Bus Shelter project
included the design and construction of a unique cast-in-place concrete bus shelter
adjacent to the Buschlen Mowatt Galleries in Palm Desert, California. Utilizing
concrete to create the illusion of a mountain backdrop gave the bus shelter an
aesthetic appeal as part of a unique, functional, and durable design. The project
provided an opportunity to show riders, residents, and guests that public transportation
is something more than a means to get to work.
Public Arts Program
Palm Desert, California, was the first city within its county jurisdiction
to create a public art program. In 1986, the City Council adopted
an ordinance requiring developers to place art or pay a fee to the
Art in Public Places fund for each new structure they build. These
funds are used to purchase public art for placement throughout the
community. The goals of the Public Art Program, in conjunction with
the city's Bus Shelter Improvement Program, are to create an artistic
harmony among buildings, landscaping, art, and open spaces, as well
as to serve the people of the community by offering art as a means
of cultural expression and response.
With
the majestic Santa Rosa Mountains as a natural backdrop, Buschlen Mowatt recently
opened its gallery of contemporary international fine art in Palm Desert. In keeping
with the guidelines of the shelter improvement program and the Art in Public Places
motto, "A Museum Without Walls," developer Tim Bartlett designed a fully
functional bus shelter that complements the dozen sculptures that adorn the exterior
of the building. The shelter is owned by the City of Palm Desert and maintained
by the public transit system, SunLine Transit Agency.
Design
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Concrete walls allude to the mountain
scenery
surrounding the community. | Concrete was utilized
for its functionality and durability, but with a unique twist-the concrete was
incorporated to create an artistic mountain backdrop, while providing protection
from the desert's extreme climate, primarily its high summer temperatures and
winds. Concrete not only affords a design concept that enhances the artistic setting,
but also incorporates passive protection from the elements. The roof angle is
designed to allow early morning, midday, and afternoon sun to shine in the structure
during the winter months, while shading the midday and afternoon sun in the summer.
In addition to wind and weather protection, a clear view of oncoming buses and
compartmentalized seating enhance the overall transit experience. The aesthetic
aspect of the design was a primary concern, since it had to carry the theme and
material use from the art gallery through to the bus shelter. The art piece provides
continuity and art gallery appeal, while the mountain backdrop, through the creative
use of concrete, provides a blending with the building and material itself. The
stained concrete and stainless steel are nearly indestructible and are resistant
to graffiti. Daily maintenance is simple, owing to the durability of the building
materials. The aesthetic and functional design will increase awareness and appreciation
of the transit system and its facilities among riders, guests, residents, and
other developers. The net result is increased ridership while improving the public's
concept of public transit. The project was completed in May of 2001 and
cost was $30,000.
Project Credits
Location: Palm Desert, California
Owner:
City of Palm Desert
Engineer: Johnson & Neilsen
Architect: Tim Bartlett
Contractor:
Hayhoe Construction
Concrete Supplier: Hayhoe Concrete
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