21. de novembre 2024
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art's 1933 building at right and Steven Holl's 2007 Bloch Building expansion at left (Photo: John Hill/World-Architects)
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, working with Malcolm Reading Consultants, has announced the six finalists who will take part in second stage of the international design competition to expand the Kansas City, Missouri institution.
The competition, announced this summer, is asking entrants to “to transform the museum with a dynamic, open, and inviting design” that will “attract new audiences by creating a vibrant space to host more art, and new creative, immersive and energizing experiences.” The first stage of the competition launched in October, attracting 182 teams from 30 countries.
The beloved museum, which offers free admission, opened its doors in a neoclassical building in 1933 and added the Bloch Building, designed by Steven Holl in a design competition, in 2007. South of the original building is the expansive Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park, home to Claus Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen's iconic Shuttlecocks, among other artworks.
The roughly $170 million project will integrate, per the museum, “the campus, the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park, and the two existing buildings into a cohesive new experience.” This is no easy feat, so no wonder the shortlist is full of architects with abundant experience in both designing museums, and expanding and renovating existing buildings.
- Kengo Kuma & Associates (Tokyo)
- Renzo Piano Building Workshop (Genoa)
- Selldorf Architects (New York)
- Studio Gang (Chicago)
- Weiss/Manfredi Architecture (New York)
- WHY Architecture (Los Angeles)
Image courtesy of Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
“The Selection Committee was faced with a daunting task to select the best from over 180 submissions. So, in the end, what shone through? The six teams presented outstanding credentials combined with creative leadership and forward-thinking. This list encompasses diversity, experience and design excellence. The next stage will test not only the teams’ pure design thinking, but also their ingenuity in how to draw and energize new audiences.”
Next, the Nelson-Atkins is hosting a public event on December 12, 2024, “to introduce teams to the community and share next steps,” per today's announcement. The finalists are each receiving a $75,000 fee for their design work at the conclusion of the competition. The winner of the two-stage competition will be named in spring 2025, following a presentation of their designs and input from visitors.