Johnston Marklee, an architecture studio based in California, has unveiled visionary designs for the development of the Bass Museum of Art’s campus in Miami Beach. This advancement will introduce 22,000 square feet of innovative indoor and outdoor space, enhancing the museum’s offerings significantly.
Bass Museum Development and Architectural Vision
The new project will occupy the southwest corner of the museum’s property, reimagining it with elevated gallery spaces and courtyards. Two sleek rectangular pavilion structures, as depicted in the renderings, rest on a thin concrete plane above the ground—an adherence to Miami-Dade County’s stated floodwater risks due to sea-level rise.
Designed to keep the area open for public access, this elevated arrangement reflects Johnston Marklee’s commitment to urban integration. As Sharon Johnston, the founding partner of Johnston Marklee, noted, the project emphasizes light, space, and the surrounding Collins Park to deliver a comprehensive transformation to the campus.
With sheer white walls characterizing the elevated parts of the structure, more textured surfaces appear at ground level. One of the central features is a backlit oculus that brilliantly illuminates evening passages underneath the pavilions, creating an inviting venue for nighttime visitors.
The design thoughtfully integrates landscape garden areas and utilizes the blank pavilion face as a screen for public screenings, blending seamlessly with the park’s natural surroundings, showcasing modern museum architecture and enhancing the Miami Beach art scene.
Additional architectural details include facade perforations adorning the upper pavilion edges and walls, maintaining openness between the courtyard spaces and the adjacent streets. This initiative builds on the museum’s original art deco structures—initially conceived by Russell Pancoast in the 1930s and expanded by Arata Isozaki.
The primary exhibition areas are housed within the pavilion structures, which feature white-wall galleries. The design includes strategic rectangular windows and skylights to enhance natural lighting.
“This project offers a unique opportunity to reinterpret the southwest corner of Collins Park, maintaining historical continuity while embracing contemporary aesthetics,” remarked Mark Lee, Johnston Marklee’s founding partner. The design respects Pancoast’s iconic 1942 art deco architecture while honoring Isozaki’s vision of a porous campus in this effort.
Johnston Marklee continues to make waves in architectural innovation with other ventures like a green-metal skyscraper in Phoenix and a minimalist pavilion for Vipp in New York. This advancement promises to further cement their reputation for forward-thinking design.
Source: dezeen.com
Frequently asked questions
What is the size of the Bass Museum expansion?
The expansion will introduce 22,000 square feet of innovative indoor and outdoor space, enhancing the museum’s offerings significantly.
Who designed the Bass Museum expansion?
Johnston Marklee, an architecture studio based in California, designed the visionary expansion for the Bass Museum of Art’s campus in Miami Beach.
How does the design address floodwater risks?
The design features elevated gallery spaces resting on a thin concrete plane above the ground to adhere to Miami-Dade County’s stated floodwater risks due to sea-level rise.
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