Architect I.M. Pei, now 91-years-old, came out of semi-retirement to design this new homage to Arabic art, a light-filled domed structure with nods to both Eastern and Western architecture. The museum, which opens on November 22, will house treasures new and (very) old from the Islamic world.
Courtesy of the Museum of Islamic Art
The buzziest piece of art inside Manhattan's New Museum, which opened in its shiny new location last December—is an Elizabeth Peyton portrait of Michelle Obama. The work is part of a Peyton retrospective now up at the museum, which will last through January 17. The building itself, from Tokyo-based architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa has become the center of the thriving Bowery district—once the home to gangs and delinquents, it is now the hub of downtown life.
Dean Kaufman
This unique natural history playground was re-designed by star-chitect Renzo Piano (whose workshop has remodeled/conceived of over ten museums ) and sits in the middle of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, an ideal setting for the "living roof" experiment. The ultra-moden interior features a planetarium, aquarium (tidal pools and swamplands), and an African Hall with the original wildlife dioramas from the old museum.
Tim Griffith
The Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle was founded in 1966, and re-opened in June 2008 in a completely remodeled and expanded space in Seattle's International District. The museum is known as the "only pan-Asian Pacific American Museum" in the US, and features several educational spaces for kids. The stunning “Letter Cloud" art installation above was designed by Erin Shie Palmer.
Courtesy Wing Luke Asian Museum
The building at 2 Columbus Circle in New York City was once voted one of the World’s Ugliest Buildings by Forbes magazine. Today, the newly remodeled structure is the stunning home to The Museum of Arts and Design, designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works Architecture. The exterior features ribbons of glass which are echoed inside the building, bringing in light and magnificent views of Columbus Circle and Central Park. The museum also boasts three open artists studios—evidence of the museum’s dedication to contemporary artists and designers...
Helene Binet
In a city known for its ancient structures, the New Acropolis Museum in Athens is faced with the task of preserving the city's beauty while offering a modern take on the old. After three decades of planning, it is ready for its first public viewing, in late 2008. The museum’s mission is to "house all the surviving antiquities from the Acropolis," and offers 360 degree views of the Acropolis itself. The museum also features a unique "onsite excavation”, seen above.
New Acropolis Museum
The Chanel Mobile Art Museum may look like a spaceship from a distant planet, but its travels will be limited to planet Earth. So far the museum has awed visitors in Hong Kong, Tokyo and New York. Designed by Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid, the museum houses artwork inspired by Chanel's legendary quilted bag. Many critics describe the fiberglass structure itself as the most stunning part of the exhibit. Next Stop: London.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Chanel
The Broad Contemporary Art Museum opened in February and showcased—as did the California Academy of Science—the architectural genius of Renzo Piano. The three-story, 72,000-square-foot gallery building is dedicated to art from 1945 to the present, the product of a million gift to LACMA by Eli and Edythe Broad.
Weldon Brewster
London’s Saatchi Gallery, closed since 2005, recently reopened in the 19th c. Duke of York’s barracks, greeting its visitors with a bold exhibit of modern Chinese artwork. The grand debut has been lauded as a “huge success”, with the 70,000 sq. foot space featuring classic open white spaces and a gallery where Saatchi Online artists can exhibit and sell their work. For those on a budget, admission to the gallery is free.
Luke MacGregor/Reuters
Architect Stephen Holl won a competition to build his bright, minimalist addition to Kansas City, and the annex opened in June. The “lantern” structures march down the side of the traditional Beaux Arts museum, creating a soft glow that shines through the Midwestern trees.
Beth Beyers/Courtesy The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
