Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas has revealed its comprehensive grounds redesign by Snøhetta; unveiling a striking public realm of mushroom-shaped canopies, shaded walkways and green gardens, which revitalise the American institution's outdoor space.
The campus is approximately 200,000 sq ft and contains two buildings plus artist Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin chapel. Its outdoor area has now been rethought, including the first-ever major public mural commission by the late Cuban-American artist Carmen Herrera, unveiled posthumously.
The Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas by Snohetta
When the project was announced, director Simone Wicha spoke of its ambition: 'I believe that landscape has the power to transform a community, very much in the way that great art can transform our hearts and minds. An undertaking of this scale would not be possible without our visionary partners, including the Snøhetta team, Carmen Herrera, The Moody Foundation, and our other generous donors. The new grounds initiative will transform the Blanton, opening the museum into the city, inviting people in not just to see great art, but also to linger, gather, and be inspired before and after each visit. We want to create a destination - a beloved destination - for families, students, tourists, and art lovers alike.'
Now launched and in operation, the project centres on the Moody Patio, a main gathering space for the complex. This is framed by 10 elegant, petal-shaped structures, whose design was inspired by the original museum building's vaults. Their placement was conceived to highlight views of Kelly’s design and the Texas State Capitol.
Craig Dykers, founding partner of Snøhetta, was an alumnus of the UT School of Architecture. He worked on the design to enhance the visitor experience and reconfigure a network of pathways and navigation across the grounds.
'Since becoming director of the Blanton in 2011, I’ve been committed to building a welcoming, accessible, and essential art destination,' says Wicha today. 'Revitalising the grounds was a key initiative because I felt the museum needed a distinctive entrance, a vibrant outdoor area for gathering and enjoying programs, and a visitor experience full of art from the moment you arrive. But it lacked all of that.'
'It was such a joy to collaborate with Snøhetta to realise these goals, and their extraordinary talent resulted in such a beautiful space. We now have this incredible environment that extends the artistic spirit of our galleries to the Blanton’s exterior. And the success of this transformation is evident in all the students, families, and tourists who come to enjoy the art, the shade and natural landscaping, and the inviting atmosphere every day.'
-
Sound and vision are combined in this Dyson x Porter bag and wireless headphone comboDyson’s first limited edition collaboration with cult Japanese bag brand Porter brings together the OnTrac headphones with a stylish shoulder bag
-
RIBA reveals more three shortlisted structures for 2025’s House of the Year awardThree more houses join the shortlist for the UK’s highest domestic architectural accolade. We explore the Triangle House, Amento and Jankes Barn
-
JLR is a mainstay of modern motoring luxury, but do car brands need creative figureheads?With Gerry McGovern departing from Jaguar Land Rover, what next for the Indian-owned, British-built house of brands?
-
The Stahl House – an icon of mid-century modernism – is for sale in Los AngelesAfter 65 years in the hands of the same family, the home, also known as Case Study House #22, has been listed for $25 million
-
Houston's Ismaili Centre is the most dazzling new building in America. Here's a look insideLondon-based architect Farshid Moussavi designed a new building open to all – and in the process, has created a gleaming new monument
-
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fountainhead will be opened to the public for the first timeThe home, a defining example of the architect’s vision for American design, has been acquired by the Mississippi Museum of Art, which will open it to the public, giving visitors the chance to experience Frank Lloyd Wright’s genius firsthand
-
Clad in terracotta, these new Williamsburg homes blend loft living and an organic feelThe Williamsburg homes inside 103 Grand Street, designed by Brooklyn-based architects Of Possible, bring together elegant interiors and dramatic outdoor space in a slick, stacked volume
-
This ethereal Miami residence sprouted out of a wild, jungle-like gardenA Miami couple tapped local firm Brillhart Architecture to design them a house that merged Florida vernacular, Paul Rudolph and 'too many plants to count’
-
Tour Cano House, a Los Angeles home like no other, full of colour and quirkCano House is a case study for tranquil city living, cantilevering cleverly over a steep site in LA’s Mount Washington and fusing California modernism with contemporary flair
-
An ocean-facing Montauk house is 'a coming-of-age, a celebration, a lair'A Montauk house on Hither Hills, designed by Hampton architects Oza Sabbeth, is wrapped in timber and connects its residents with the ocean
-
With a freshly expanded arts centre at Dartmouth College, Snøhetta brings levity to the Ivy LeagueThe revamped Hopkins Center for the Arts – a prototype for the Met Opera house in New York –has unveiled its gleaming new update
