3. sunken art
sunken art musuem
Architects are commissioned to work in partnership with MOMA and Saint Louis Art Museum to curate exhibition spaces designed for 5 artifacts from MOMA: Friendship by Anges Martin, Wall Drawing 154 by Sol LeWitt, Frontal Passage by James Turrell, and Endless Column by Constantin Brancusi. These artifacts have been closely studied in order to create the ideal atmosphere and space to enhance the viewing experience. Inspired by Tadao Ando Chichu Art Museum, sunken art museum was built mostly underground to avoid affecting the natural topography of the site. Exhibition spaces get their source of natural light from the light portals scattered across the site, the landscape becoming art with sculptures emerging from the ground.
The design of the sunken art museum focuses on the journey to the exhibition spaces. Accessing the museum entrance from above ground, visitors take the central staircase that leads directly to and from the individual exhibits. The central staircase does not only serve as a means of transportation but also an exhibition space. As visitors descend down the steps, they encircle the endless column, one of the 5 artifacts placed in the center of the atrium space. From endless column, visitors continue their journey to the remaining gallery exhibits.