Saint Louis Art Museum Expansion, USA
2007-
David Chipperfield
David Chipperfield Architects have completed the design for a $125 million
expansion of the Saint Louis Art Museum, presented on 5 November 2007.
The design creates an addition to the east and south of the original 1904
building with a dark, polished concrete façade made using Missouri
river aggregate. (East View):
image copyright : Imaging Atelier 2007
The Saint Louis Art Museum is one of the leading art museums in the US,
housing more than 30,000 works of art. Its collections include works of
exceptional quality from virtually every culture and time period. Its
Beaux-Arts-style historic home in Forest Park was designed for the 1904
World’s Fair by architect Cass Gilbert.
The expansion will increase the Museum's galleries and public spaces,
providing new exhibition space for the Museum’s comprehensive collection,
and also for touring exhibitions.
The expansion will increase the Museum's galleries and public spaces,
providing new exhibition space for the Museum’s comprehensive collection.
(New Gallery Space):
image copyright : Imaging Atelier 2007
The design creates an addition to the east and south of the original 1904
building with a dark, polished concrete façade made using Missouri
river aggregate. New galleries and public spaces are top-lit and have
a number of floor-to-ceiling windows, inviting and providing views from
both inside and outside.
The design organically links the expansion to the current structure by
connecting to existing primary circulation axes. It features a new central
staircase to more clearly connect the main level to a new, lower level
public concourse serving an expanded café and the existing museum
shop and auditorium. A new restaurant will overlook Forest Park to the
north. All existing Museum surface parking will be relocated to a 300-space,
three-level, below-grade parking garage. The project also includes a new
restaurant and a new fully accessible front entrance.
In total, the plan provides for 82,452 square feet of new galleries, public
space and art support, and 128,979 square feet for below-grade parking.
The Museum expects to break ground on the expansion project in late 2008,
with completion anticipated in 2011.
image copyright : Imaging Atelier 2007
David Chipperfield said, “The Cass Gilbert building - the only remaining
building from the 1904 World’s Fair - is integral to the Museum’s
history and identity. We sought not only to maintain the building and
its historic Sculpture Hall as the symbolic heart of the Museum, but also
to create a strong relationship between landscape and architecture.”
“David Chipperfield’s design pays thoughtful and elegant homage
to Cass Gilbert while creating modern spaces to house the Museum’s
extraordinary holdings of post-war art,” said Art Museum Director
Brent R. Benjamin. “The expansion will enable St. Louisans to enjoy
even more of our wonderful collection in a building that takes full advantage
of the Museum’s magnificent setting in Forest Park.”
Saint Louis Art Museum Expansion Architect : David Chipperfield Architects
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- adrian welch / isabelle lomholt