:Renzo Piano Workshop - Nasher Sculpture Center : arcspace.com

Nearing completion
Renzo Piano Workshop
Nasher Sculpture Center
Dallas, Texas

The Nasher Sculpture Center will be one of the few institutions in the world devoted to the exhibition, study, and preservation of modern sculpture.
Situated in the heart of the downtown Dallas Arts District at the base of the city's skyline, the Nasher Sculpture Center represents Mr. Nasher's vision to create an outdoor "roof-less" museum that will serve as a peaceful retreat for reflection and contemplation of art and nature.

Photo: Tim Hursley

Envisioned as an urban oasis of art and nature, the Center will consist of a 54,000 square foot building designed by Renzo Piano and a two acre sculpture garden created by landscape architect Peter Walker.
Approximately 45 trees have been planted in the two-acre garden, the remaining 100 trees will be planted during the next few months. The long lead time will allow the garden ample time to mature before the opening.

Photo: Tim Hursley

The gallery building features long walls faced in two-inch wide slabs of Italian travertine that define five, equal-sized, parallel pavilions.
The exterior stone is rough and pitted, while the interior walls have been smoothed and honed to remove the weathered outer layers, exposing the creamy surfaces beneath that will serve as quiet background for the sculpture.

Photo: Tim Hursley

The three central pavilions on the main floor will serve as galleries, while the outer two will accommodate offices and public space, including a store and cafŽ. The lower level will house an additional gallery for the display of environmental and light sensitive sculptures and works in other mediums, as well as an indoor auditorium that opens onto an outdoor terraced garden.

Image courtesy of Interloop A/D

Each pavilion is enclosed by glass facades that allow the galleries to visually extend into the garden, providing unobstructed, continuous views from the street, through the building and across the length of the garden.

Building upon the concept of a "museum without a roof," the building's barrel-vaulted ceiling features delicate glass panes suspended atop narrow steel ribs and supported by thin, stainless steel rods.

Photo: Tim Hursley

Photo: Brett Terpeluk/RPBW

The innovative cast aluminum sunscreen device - specially designed for this project - floats above the glass allowing controlled natural light to filter into the galleries, eliminating the need for artificial illumination much of the time.

The sculpture garden will feature settings that frame the outdoor works and include stone walls and walkways, ponds, scattered groves of trees and small meadow areas. Approximately 20 larger scale sculptures from the Nasher Collection will be on view in the garden at any one time.

Perspective courtesy Renzo Piano Building Workshop

Comprised of more than 300 works, the Nasher Collection is one of the most important collections of modern sculpture in private or public hands and includes masterpieces by Calder, de Kooning, di Suvero, Giacometti, Hepworth, Kelly, Matisse, Mir—, Moore, Picasso, Rodin, and Serra, among many others.

Sketch courtesy Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Sketch of Interior Gallery Bay

Drawing courtesy Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Cross Section of Gallery with Three Bollards (Calder)

Drawing courtesy of Interloop A/D
Ground Floor Plan

Drawing courtesy of Interloop A/D
Sections

Construction start: January 2001
Scheduled inauguration: October 2003.

Site area: 2.4 acres
Building size: 54,000 square feet
Indoor gallery space: 10,000 square feet
Outdoor exhibition space: 62,000 square feet

Client: Nasher Sculpture Center

Architect:
Renzo Piano Building Workshop

Project Team:
Renzo Piano
E. Baglietto (associate in charge)
B. Terpeluk

Associate Architect:
Beck Architecture, Dallas
Interloop A/D, Houston

Landscape Architect: Peter Walker and Partners

Renzo Piano arcspace features

May 26, 2003





				Features
		Nearing completion Renzo Piano Workshop Nasher Sculpture Center Dallas, Texas The Nasher Sculpture Center will be one of the few institutions in the world devoted to the exhibition, study, and preservation of modern sculpture. Situated in the heart of the downtown Dallas Arts District at the base of the city's skyline, the Nasher Sculpture Center represents Mr. Nasher's vision to create an outdoor "roof-less" museum that will serve as a peaceful retreat for reflection and contemplation of art and nature. Photo: Tim Hursley Envisioned as an urban oasis of art and nature, the Center will consist of a 54,000 square foot building designed by Renzo Piano and a two acre sculpture garden created by landscape architect Peter Walker. Approximately 45 trees have been planted in the two-acre garden, the remaining 100 trees will be planted during the next few months. The long lead time will allow the garden ample time to mature before the opening. Photo: Tim Hursley The gallery building features long walls faced in two-inch wide slabs of Italian travertine that define five, equal-sized, parallel pavilions. The exterior stone is rough and pitted, while the interior walls have been smoothed and honed to remove the weathered outer layers, exposing the creamy surfaces beneath that will serve as quiet background for the sculpture. Photo: Tim Hursley The three central pavilions on the main floor will serve as galleries, while the outer two will accommodate offices and public space, including a store and cafŽ. The lower level will house an additional gallery for the display of environmental and light sensitive sculptures and works in other mediums, as well as an indoor auditorium that opens onto an outdoor terraced garden. Image courtesy of Interloop A/D Each pavilion is enclosed by glass facades that allow the galleries to visually extend into the garden, providing unobstructed, continuous views from the street, through the building and across the length of the garden. Building upon the concept of a "museum without a roof," the building's barrel-vaulted ceiling features delicate glass panes suspended atop narrow steel ribs and supported by thin, stainless steel rods. Photo: Tim Hursley Photo: Brett Terpeluk/RPBW The innovative cast aluminum sunscreen device - specially designed for this project - floats above the glass allowing controlled natural light to filter into the galleries, eliminating the need for artificial illumination much of the time. The sculpture garden will feature settings that frame the outdoor works and include stone walls and walkways, ponds, scattered groves of trees and small meadow areas. Approximately 20 larger scale sculptures from the Nasher Collection will be on view in the garden at any one time. Perspective courtesy Renzo Piano Building Workshop Comprised of more than 300 works, the Nasher Collection is one of the most important collections of modern sculpture in private or public hands and includes masterpieces by Calder, de Kooning, di Suvero, Giacometti, Hepworth, Kelly, Matisse, Mir—, Moore, Picasso, Rodin, and Serra, among many others. Sketch courtesy Renzo Piano Building Workshop Sketch of Interior Gallery Bay Drawing courtesy Renzo Piano Building Workshop Cross Section of Gallery with Three Bollards (Calder) Drawing courtesy of Interloop A/D Ground Floor Plan Drawing courtesy of Interloop A/D Sections Construction start: January 2001 Scheduled inauguration: October 2003. Site area: 2.4 acres Building size: 54,000 square feet Indoor gallery space: 10,000 square feet Outdoor exhibition space: 62,000 square feet Client: Nasher Sculpture Center Architect: Renzo Piano Building Workshop Project Team: Renzo Piano E. Baglietto (associate in charge) B. Terpeluk Associate Architect: Beck Architecture, Dallas Interloop A/D, Houston Landscape Architect: Peter Walker and Partners Renzo Piano arcspace features May 26, 2003