the center for curatorial studies, bard college (CCS bard) has announced that new york architecture firm HWKN has been appointed to lead a major expansion of its campus facilities. in the past, bard college has also been recognized for its continual commissioning of influential architects with HWKN joining the likes of frank gehry and rafael viñoly in contributing towards the upstate new york college.

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main image: sol lewitt, wall drawing #475, ‘double asymmetrical pyramids’ (1986) within the archive space
all images courtesy of HWKN

 

 

 

‘CCS bard houses one of the most impressive contemporary art collections in the world therefore our approach was to ensure the collection was both extremely accessible and at the core of the visitor experience,’ explained matthias hollwich, principal of HWKN. ‘with the college faculty and artist liam gillick we have found new ways for visitors to engage with art even when it may not be formally on display.’

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a portion of liam gillick’s ‘structured expansion’ (2015) at the entrance to the hessel museum’s archive

 

 

 

fueled by a deliberate re-envisioning of the role architecture plays within art oriented spaces, HWKN have collaborated with british conceptual artist liam gillick for one portion of the expansion – a visible collection archive featuring slatted walls that offer visitors a glimpse of a colorful wall drawing by sol lewitt. simultaneously, the scheme shows deliberate architectural restraint in others areas of the expansion, allowing the diverse body of contemporary art from the marieluise hessel collection to take center stage. additionally, the expansion doubles existing teaching spaces and includes the design of a new light filled library, which will grow from 30,000 to 60,000 volumes.

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the hessel museum of art and CCS bard library and archives will reopen in fall 2015

 

 

 

‘HWKN have brought enthusiasm and design intelligence to CCS bard’s facilities expansion,’ commented executive director tom eccles. ‘they understand the unique challenges posed with both educational and fine art oriented spaces and have created some beautiful solutions in collaboration with liam gillick, which we think will result in a valuable experience for our students, staff and patrons.’

 

the hessel museum of art and CCS bard library and archives will reopen in fall 2015.

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