White Cube, Green Maze: New Art Landscapes

Photo: Iwan Baan
Teshima Art Museum Naoshima Island, Japan
Designed by Ryue Nishizawa

This exhibition examines emerging trends in museum design through six new art sites that share the common thread of moving beyond the traditional "white cube" gallery space.

Rather than displaying art in minimalist, enclosed spaces, the sites in the exhibition break apart the experience into multiple pavilions, heightening the role of landscape.

Photo: Tom Little

Photo: Tom Little

Photo: Tom Little

Each museum represents a unique expression of the ambitions and collaborations of patrons, architects, landscape architects, artists, and curators.

Featuring the photography of architectural photographer Iwan Baan, the exhibition explores radical collaborations across a range of artistic and architectural approaches.

Olympic Sculpture Park
Seattle, Washington, USA
Designed by Weiss/Manfredi

Photo: Iwan Baan
Aerial view of Olympic Sculpture Park

Model photo courtesy Weiss/Manfredi
Conceptual model of Olympic Sculpture Park

Sketch courtesy Weiss/Manfredi Sketch of PACCAR
Pavilion at Olympic Sculpture Park

Benesse Art Site
Naoshima Island, Japan
Includes built projects by Tadao Ando, Hiroshi Sambuichi, Kazuyo Sejima, and Ryue Nishizawa.

Photo: Iwan Baan 
Aerial view of Benesse House Museum and Oval 
Designed by Tadao Ando

Sketch courtesy of Tadao Ando Architect & Associates
Sketch of Benesse House and Oval

Photo: Iwan Baan Designed by Ryue Nishizawa Aerial view of Teshima Art Museum

Instituto Inhotim
Near Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Inhotim, inspired by the landscapes of Roberto Burle Marx, includes built projects by Arquitetos Associados, Rodrigo Cerviño Lopez, and Rizoma Arquitetura.

Photo: Iwan Baan
Pavilion housing True Rouge by Tunga (1997)

Photo: Iwan Baan
Outdoor terrace in the Miguel Rio Branco Pavilion
Designed by Arquitetos Associados

Photo: Iwan Baan

Adriana Varejão Gallery
Designed by Rodrigo Cerviño Lopez
"Linda do Rosário (2004-2008)" installation by Adriana Varejão

Model photo courtesy of Instituto Inhotim Model of Burle Marx Educational Center
Designed by Arquitetos Associados

Insel Hombroich + Raketenstation Hombroich
Near Neuss, Germany
Includes built projects by Erwin Heerich, Tadao Ando, Álvaro Siza, and Raimund Abraham.

Photo: Iwan Baan
Interior of the Hohe Galerie
Sculptures by Erwin Heerich

Sketch courtesy Álvaro Siza, archive 
Siza Pavilion Sketch by Álvaro Siza

Photo: Iwan Baan
House for music

Designed by Raimund Abraham, Sculptures by Katsuhito Nishikawa and Oliver Kruse.

Model photo courtesy
Stiftung Insel Hombroich Model of House for Music
Designed by Raimund Abraham

Jardín Botánico
Culiacán, Mexico
Architectural interventions by Tatiana Bilbao and landscape design by TOA - Taller de Operaciones Ambientales

Photo: Iwan Baan
Educational and Multipurpose Building 
Designed by Tatiana Bilbao

Model photo courtesy Jardín Botánico de Culiacán
Educational and Multipurpose Buildings
Designed by Tatiana Bilbao S.C.

Drawing courtesy TOA 
Masterplan of the Jardín Botánico de Culiacán 
Designed by TOA

Grand Traiano Art Complex
Grottaferrata, Italy

Projects in design development by Johnston Marklee and by HHF architects and landscape design by Topotek1

Photo: Iwan Baan
Future entrance to the Grand Traiano Art Complex

Model photo courtesy Johnston Marklee
Model of the Commercial Building

Collage courtesy Johnston Marklee
Collage of the Commercial Building

Several of these sites have already achieved recognition, while others are only emerging as important models; all demonstrate the same open-endedness, and a close intertwining of art, design, curatorial vision, and the environment.

These evolving institutions, appearing almost simultaneously at radically different sites around the world, are forming a new typology that mixes professional disciplines and offers the visitors choice and surprise./Raymund Ryan, curator of architecture