New Art Museum

Pritzker award

DONE BY :
ZOHA 13171AA039
KUBRA- 13171AA002
KOMAL- 13171AA014
SHAHEERA
13171AA029
 New Art
Museum
Architect: SANAA
Location: 235 Bowery, New York, NY
10002, USA
Client: New Museum of Contemporary
Art, New York City; Zubatkin Owner
Representation
Year Of Enchargement: 2002
Area: 58700.0 ft2
Project Year: 2007
Location
 Design Idea
The location context, Lower Manhattan, with its
squared blocks and buildings, can be considered as
starting point for the Museum image: it replies the
boxes surrounding, and stacks them one on top of
the other in various sizes and heights, as the plot
was a playground for a composition of cubes. By
small but significant shifting of the cubes, the
building gets dynamicity and an attracting shape,
being different but similar to the near constructions.
The program of the Museum consists of four public
galleries at the first four floors, which have free
and flexible spaces for exhibitions; a white box
auditorium in the basement, Education Center at
the 5th floor, offices at 6th, a multi-purpose room
at the 7th.
By shifting the boxes, all galleries get natural
illumination, combined with artificial, and the offices
and the private locals on the top floors get terraces
and opening views to the cityscape.
It is in that way that the project shows its concept:
by simple repeated shifting, the intention of the
building is clearly readable from outside, and
combines a convincing language with the need of
natural light from top: all at once, with one
operation, the project shows its force.
The choice of a layer of anodized aluminium mesh on
top of the white walls is not new and unknown to
most of architects.

But in the Museum it is used as a wrapped skin on all

vertical surfaces, as a continuous blurring layer, that
gives different light reflections and hides the offices
windows, doors and balustrades of the terraces.

The result is an elegant, light and white succession of

surfaces, without any interruption or contamination
by other elements: a semi-transparent dress for the
shifting body of the building.
Evidently, at night the Museum shows life from the
inside with the artificial lights through the hidden
openings, enhancing the gaps between the volumes
and giving more lightness to the massive building.
Inside, the Museum keeps its lightness by the white
surfaces and ceilings. The steel structure of the
perimeter walls supports the floors and sets them
free from any column. The plan, with an off- centred
core and free space all around, efficient and flexible,
confirms the clearness of the concept.
Plans
Elevations
Sections
Details
Conclusion :
The simplicity and clearness of the concept, and its
clean translation into construction.

The New Contemporary Art Museum in New York is

a precious building with clear concept and strong
impact.