From The Chazen Museum of Art earliest stages, the goal has been to create a strong physical connection and sense of continuity from the existing museum to the addition. Building on this initial concept, two other very important relationships that have been a focus of the Chazen Museum of Art are the connection from outside to inside and from the addition’s entry level to its main gallery level.
Photographs: Anton Grassl / Esto
The connection between the existing museum and the addition is a bridge gallery at the third-floor level creating a strong physical connection or continuous flow of gallery space from the existing building to the new. The bridge and its exterior cladding/material construction are being investigated to both unify the south façade of the Museum and serve as a unique gateway to the campus. Photographs: Anton Grassl / Esto
In contrast to the third level’s continuous band, the first and second levels are composed of a series of “boxes” that project and recede from beneath it. Their material expressions are conceived to be distinct from the third level, comprised of bronze/copper plate, board-formed concrete, and glass. The addition’s façade aims to be far more transparent and inviting to the public than its existing counterpart in areas where it can afford to do so. As an example of this, the public lobby consists of a large two-story glass volume that orients itself towards what will be a significant ...