Steven Holl Architects - Bellevue Art Museum

Steven Holl Architects
Bellevue Art Museum
Bellevue, Washington

Model photo courtesy Steven Holl Architects

The aim of the new Bellevue Art Museum is to "provide opportunities for active participation in museum life by individuals and groups representing the entire community." Ambitious programs focused on education and outreach, include studio classes for adults and children, an artist-in-residency connected to the Explore Gallery, The Pacific Northwest Arts Fair, workshops, demonstrations, screenings, performances, and readings.

CONCEPT: Tripleness is the organizing concept for the building. A non-dialectic openness of experience, thought and contact give character to space on three levels, in three galleries, with three different light conditions and three circulation options.

Sketch courtesy Steven Holl Architects

TRIPLENESS (non-dialectic openness):
3 gallery lofts
3 light qualities
3 actions - see/explore/make (art, science, technology)
3 main levels
3 circulation directions

The spirit of openness of the Bellevue Art Museum is expressed in the three main lofts which are each slightly warped and gripped by the end wall structures. The galleries define sequences of movement as well as the main public spaces.
The three distinct lighting conditions of the three gallery lofts are analogous to three different concepts of time. Linear Ongoing Time is expressed in the evenness of the light in the north loft. Cyclic Time has its parallel in the arc of south light gallery. Its plan geometry corresponds roughly to the arc of the sun at 48¡ north latitude. Fragmented or Gnostic Time is reflected in the east-west skylights of the studios loft.
The end profiles of the gallery lofts are concrete shear walls. The vertical aspects of the east and west elevations add a vertical character to the three story horizontal building.

FORUM. Flanking the main entry between an outdoor cafe and museum shop is the Forum and Lobby space which can be used for numerous events such as opening receptions and special dinner events. From this grand space, a stepped ramp up to the galleries pauses in a landing which double functions as a stage. Ascending to the next level one arrives at the Explore Gallery, a double-height skylit space with an adjacent artist-in-residence studio. Passing by the overlook to the Forum, the stepped ramp leads to the top level at the main loft galleries.

OUTDOOR TERRACES. The Bellevue Art Museum originated as an exterior experience in the street fair. In this spirit, outdoor terraces extend the museum's top level. With sunlight and views, these terraces accommodate outdoor classes as well as exhibitions and events on summer evenings. The twilight sky will be particularly inspiring from these spaces. The open attitude of tripleness is realized in a semi-permanent exhibit program for each of the terraces.

Program: Galleries, classrooms, cafe, auditorium
Client: Bellevue Art Museum
Project Team:
Steven Holl Architects
Project Architect: Tim Bade
Total floor area: 36,000 square feet
Status: Construction Documents Phase

Steven Holl arcspace features





				Features
		Steven Holl Architects Bellevue Art Museum Bellevue, Washington Model photo courtesy Steven Holl Architects The aim of the new Bellevue Art Museum is to "provide opportunities for active participation in museum life by individuals and groups representing the entire community." Ambitious programs focused on education and outreach, include studio classes for adults and children, an artist-in-residency connected to the Explore Gallery, The Pacific Northwest Arts Fair, workshops, demonstrations, screenings, performances, and readings. CONCEPT: Tripleness is the organizing concept for the building. A non-dialectic openness of experience, thought and contact give character to space on three levels, in three galleries, with three different light conditions and three circulation options. Sketch courtesy Steven Holl Architects TRIPLENESS (non-dialectic openness): 3 gallery lofts 3 light qualities 3 actions - see/explore/make (art, science, technology) 3 main levels 3 circulation directions The spirit of openness of the Bellevue Art Museum is expressed in the three main lofts which are each slightly warped and gripped by the end wall structures. The galleries define sequences of movement as well as the main public spaces. The three distinct lighting conditions of the three gallery lofts are analogous to three different concepts of time. Linear Ongoing Time is expressed in the evenness of the light in the north loft. Cyclic Time has its parallel in the arc of south light gallery. Its plan geometry corresponds roughly to the arc of the sun at 48¡ north latitude. Fragmented or Gnostic Time is reflected in the east-west skylights of the studios loft. The end profiles of the gallery lofts are concrete shear walls. The vertical aspects of the east and west elevations add a vertical character to the three story horizontal building. FORUM. Flanking the main entry between an outdoor cafe and museum shop is the Forum and Lobby space which can be used for numerous events such as opening receptions and special dinner events. From this grand space, a stepped ramp up to the galleries pauses in a landing which double functions as a stage. Ascending to the next level one arrives at the Explore Gallery, a double-height skylit space with an adjacent artist-in-residence studio. Passing by the overlook to the Forum, the stepped ramp leads to the top level at the main loft galleries. OUTDOOR TERRACES. The Bellevue Art Museum originated as an exterior experience in the street fair. In this spirit, outdoor terraces extend the museum's top level. With sunlight and views, these terraces accommodate outdoor classes as well as exhibitions and events on summer evenings. The twilight sky will be particularly inspiring from these spaces. The open attitude of tripleness is realized in a semi-permanent exhibit program for each of the terraces. Program: Galleries, classrooms, cafe, auditorium Client: Bellevue Art Museum Project Team: Steven Holl Architects Project Architect: Tim Bade Total floor area: 36,000 square feet Status: Construction Documents Phase Steven Holl arcspace features