Virginia Museum of Fine Art in Virginia, United States

June 15, 2010 Category: Art, Urban Design

The Virginia Museum of Fine Art designed by Rick Mather Architects is located in Virginia, United States. The Virginia Museum of Fine Art (VMFA) opened last week after undergoing a $150 million makeover by UK-based architect Rick Mather. The commission, which is the US-born architect’s first major project in America, adds a 165,000 sq ft modern wing that seamlessly sews together the oft-renovated museum while correcting some of its flaws. The expansion doubles the museum’s gallery space, creates a new entrance on Boulevard, the main street, and adds a sculpture park to the 13-½-acre complex.

With the parking lot gone, Mather shifted the museum’s entrance from the rear of the building to its original location on Boulevard, creating a proper front door. Entrance to the building is through the new limestone wing, which is joined to the existing structure by a full-height, top-lit atrium that creates a large and welcoming lobby. This space is bookended by two 40-feet-by-70-feet windows that open the building to the landscape, creating expansive vistas of the garden beyond. From the atrium, glass staircases and sky bridges provide access to well-proportioned galleries. In designing the garden, which incorporates waterfalls, reflecting pools and terraces, Mather took inspiration from the Tivoli Gardens in Rome.

Virginia Museum of Fine Art Architechture Plan