Thai architect Kulapat Yantrasast was recently chosen to oversee a major renovation of galleries at The Met in New York. In this exclusive interview, he explains why he designs art spaces to be more than white boxes, and credits mentor Tadao Ando for providing a "true education".
Yantrasast, who runs architecture firm wHY, has gained a reputation for creating major arts spaces in the US – with a portfolio that includes galleries at the Art Institute of Chicago, and the David Kordansky Gallery in Los Angeles.
This experience made him an obvious for the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art project. But Yantrasast believes his ability to create spaces that are unique to the works on show – rather than plain blank backdrops – was key to his appointment. Yantrasast spoke to Dezeen about how he tries to avoid creating "white box" art galleries"I really see myself as a matchmaker between art and people," the Los Angeles-based architect told Dezeen.
"I want to create space that is not a white box. It's a space that lets the art breathe, [gives] a sense of where you are, a sense of place, whether it's the art, or the context of the city, it's a part of your experience."
Yantrasast's design will "respect and enhance" historic Met
The $70 million (£54 million) project at The Met will involve transforming the Micheal C Rockefeller Wing, where it hosts its Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas (AAOA) department....