Steven Holl expands the Museum of Fine Arts campus in Houston

In one of the year’s most anticipated cultural launches, Houston’s Museum of Fine Arts is about to celebrate the inauguration of the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building. Designed by Steven Holl Architects, this is the latest addition to an expanding museum campus, which also includes Holl’s Glassell School of Art, completed in 2018.

The new structure, a balanced composition of irregularly shaped, white and translucent volumes topped by luminous, concave roofs, features bright, dynamic interiors, created to house generously modern and contemporary art. The building is arranged horizontally, spanning two levels, and generous, naturally top-lit galleries are interspersed with courtyards, connecting inside and outside.

A cascading sculptural staircase that links lobby and gallery areas on all levels is a key centrepiece in the composition. ‘The atrium is very dramatic and I feel will likely become an iconic example in 21st museum architecture, in the same way the Guggenheim in Bilbao or New York is,’ says the museum’s director Gary Tinterow. This is an expressive building that is singular and the interior is very exciting. Our galleries are full of character, they are not the typical white box.’ Lighting design by L’Observatoire International enhances the space throughout. 

The building will open officially on 21 November with the first comprehensive installation from the museum’s international collections, including in particular Latin American and Latino art; photography; prints and drawings; decorative arts, craft, and design; and modern and contemporary art. 

A version of this article originally featured in the November issue of Wallpaper*

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