machado silvetti adds terracotta-clad pavilion to florida's ringling museum of art

a new center for asian art has opened at the ringling, the state art museum of florida, located in sarasota. designed by boston-based architects machado silvetti, the three-storey extension is connected to the existing museum building on each floor, and has been clad with a mosaic of terracotta tiles, each covered in a custom green glaze. these large panels respond to the tonality and textures of the museum setting, creating a dynamic pattern that engulfs the entirety of the façade.

the three-storey extension is connected to the existing building on each floor
image © anton grassl / esto (also main image)

the scheme includes an open loggia at ground level, with a shaded space for rest and contemplation. a gallery is positioned on the storey above, while a flexible volume on the third level can be used for meetings and events. extending west, the new pavilion establishes an entry point to the museum for visitors who wish to enter from the southwest side of the 66-acre campus.

gallery space is positioned at the second level
image © anton grassl / esto

as well as the creation of the 7,500 square-foot pavilion, the project also includes the renovation of approximately 18,000 square feet within the museum of art’s 1966 expansion. the center includes 6,800 square feet of gallery space for the display of rotating selections from the ringling’s collection of asian art, a 125-person lecture hall, a print/study room, a seminar room, and open object storage — all linked by a new bridge connecting the pavilion to the museum’s west wing. the building fosters the exploration of historical and contemporary asian cultures through a variety of research, exhibitions and programs.

the pavilion has been clad with a mosaic of terracotta tiles
image © anton grassl / esto

‘through the creation of this center, the ringling underscores its dedication to and investment in the arts of asia,’ says steven high, executive director of the ringling. ‘the center will allow us to cultivate strategic partnerships with individuals and institutions around the globe, making sarasota and the ringling an important site for both scholars and enthusiasts of asian arts and culture. as part of a leading research university like FSU, this center gives us the ability to engage with faculty, students and the community on a whole new level.’

the scheme includes an open loggia at ground level
image © anton grassl / esto

‘the project’s goal was to create an architecturally significant statement that would not be seen anywhere else,’ adds rodolfo machado, principal architect on the project. ‘we hope visitors will come away with a fresh awareness of the value of architecture and how it can inform inventive new approaches and profound responses to visual art.’

the large tiles respond to the tonality and textures of the museum setting
image © anton grassl / esto

Save

Save