The completion of Steven Holl’s Glassell School of Art in Houston, Texas, signals the delivery of the first phase of the American city’s major redevelopment of its Museum of Fine Art campus; it is also a key piece in the puzzle that will form an ‘essential center for Houston’s diverse and active art community’, says the school’s director Joseph Havel.
The Glassell is the USA’s only museum-affiliated art school, recieving up to post-graduate students. The L-shaped structure features Holl’s signature abstract geometric shapes and light-play, as well as demonstrating the architect’s expertise in the typology; Steven Holl Architects are behind a wealth of education and art buildings across the country, including the Lewis Arts Complex at Princeton University (2017); and the Visual Arts Building at the University of Iowa (2016).
The building spans some 93,000 sq ft and features a range of naturally lit studios for adults and children. An accessible roof terrace, art galleries, a 75-seat auditorium, and a public coffee bar, as well as a striking centrepiece of a staircase with broad steps that can be used as a gathering space and a sort of ‘forum’, ensure this is a true public building that can be enjoyed by all.
‘Our building for the Glassell School is a key part of the overall strategy to shape the public spaces for the entire campus’, says Steven Holl. ‘The alternating concrete and glass panels create a porosity between indoors and out, and the gathering spaces – including the building’s walkable, sloping roof – provide a civic experience for students and the public alike, with spectacular views of the neighborhood and the city skyline.’
The new art building opened together with the complex’s The Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza designed by Deborah Nevins & Associates in collaboration with Nevins & Benito Landscape Architecture, D.P.C. The entire campus redevelopment project – the country’s largest cultural project currently under construction – is set to reach full completion in 2020.
This is also is the USA's only museum-affiliated art school. Photography: Richard Barnes
The structure features Holl's signature abstract geometric shapes and light-play. Photography: Richard Barnes
The building opened together with the campus' The Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza. Photography: Richard Barnes
A dramatic set of wide steps act as a 'forum' for the school. Photography: Richard Barnes
The project includes studio workspaces for both adults and children. Photography: Richard Barnes
INFORMATION
For more information visit the website of Steven Holl Architects
-
A new limited-edition Rhodes piano and Gibson doubleneck guitar aim for the starsThe new Rhodes Mk8 Earth Edition piano and Gibson Jimmy Page EDS-1275 Doubleneck guitar revisit classic instruments at a price
-
The new interior design trends we spotted at Salone del Mobile 2024These are the interior design trends to look out for in 2024 and beyond, from soft upholstery to conversation pits and low dining
-
Tiffany & Co nods to its theatrical history with a surreal new campaignTiffany & Co campaign ‘With Love, Since 1837’ sees Dan Tobin Smith and set designer Rachel Thomas create an offbeat set
-
Shigeru Ban’s mini Paper Log House welcomed at The Glass House'Shigeru Ban: The Paper Log House' is shown at The Glass House in New Canaan, USA as the house museum of American architect Philip Johnson plays host to the Japanese architect’s model temporary home concept
-
Ray Phoenix to rise in ArizonaRay Phoenix housing project launches, designed by Johnston Marklee, who worked with Lamar Johnson Collaborative, for property experts Ray and Vela
-
A low-energy farmhouse provides a rural escape in North CarolinaThis low-energy farmhouse is a net zero architectural re-set for a Californian client, an East Coast relocation for a more engaged and low-key lifestyle
-
A Petra Island house rises from Frank Lloyd Wright's original drawingsBased on Frank Lloyd Wright drawings, the cantilevering Petra Island Massaro House, located in New York’s Hudson Valley, is now open to visitors
-
An Upper West Side apartment by General Assembly nods to its historyAn Upper West Side apartment in New York, born out of the reimagining of two neighbouring units, is refreshed by General Assembly for a young family
-
New York's Leica store echoes the brand's blend of heritage and innovationLeica store throws open its doors in New York's Meatpacking District, courtesy of Brooklyn based Format Architecture Office
-
Hudson Valley Residence is a low-lying retreat that seamlessly blends into the horizonDesigned by HGX Design, Hudson Valley Residence is a scenic home offering unobstructed views across the Catskill Mountains in Upstate New York
-
Boise Passive House’s bold gestures support an environmentally friendly designBoise Passive House by Haas Architecture combines sleek, contemporary design and environmental efficiency
