Renovation work on The Bass museum of contemporary art in Miami Beach has now been finished, allowing for the design venue’s reopening. Architects Arata Isozaki and his pupil David Gauld extended it in an ammendment to the original plans for the building, 16 years back. It was the art museum‘s second renovation after its original 1935 design by Russel Pancoast and Arata Isozaki‘s solo first.
After closing for the past 2 years for the maintenance to take place, The Bass reopened up the past October 29th as its architects had to adjust the art museum‘s structure to accommodate the increasing numbers of visitors and more demanding exhibition requirements. Alterations were made to one of the wings and first level at Miami’s Historic Preservation Board’s request back in 2015, to which Gauld was called and asked for his mentor, Isozaki’s help with.
The museum has now been extended to accomodate a wider audience, with a museum store and café, more contemporary art exhibitions, and even some educational facilities. A ramp by Isozaki which connected the entrance to the first floor, considered to make navigation confusing, was removed to install a large lobby that can host both masses of people as well as artwork on display.
Gauld made sure he took up materials that would not interrupt the original building’s aesthetics throughout the renovation. Gauld described the outcome as “mediation between Pancost’s original and Isozaki’s addition (…)
“…The way the glass is configured is based on other parts of the building so that there is continuity around the building,” he continued. “It looks like it could have been here from the beginning.”
Gauld and Isozaki also added new flooring to add space to exhibition areas which allowed for the opening of four new galleries. Rooms at the rearside of the museum are prepared to include classrooms for the Children’s Creativity Center, which will contain a meeting room and also organize summer camps.
Gauld collaborated with Project-Space, Jonathan Caplan’s New York-based studio for the museum’s public spaces’ interior design such as the café, gift shop, the lobby and the lighting along the galleries.
Looking forward to the exhibitions the brand new Bass will be premiering? So are we! Pay attention to Miami Design Agenda and get all the updates you need!
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