pattersons architects sculpts new zealand len lye art museum with iridescent steel façade

pattersons architects sculpts len lye art museum with iridescent steel façade
images courtesy of pattersons architects
photography by patrick reynolds

the museum dedicated to exhibiting the works of christchurch-born creative len lye is the only building in new zealand that focuses solely on a single artist. ‘the len lye centre‘ in new plymouth is created by pattersons architects associates, is an homage to ideas, writings and works of the late filmmaker and sculptor. the fluid, iridescent exterior composed of stainless steel is reminiscent of the kinetics and light seen in lye’s work, but also highlights a connection to the region’s industrial innovation. establishing a connection between art and architecture, the space is reverential, focusing on a unique, sensory experience from light as a ‘temple’ for art.

the project respectfully links into the smaller existing govett brewster art gallery

inside, the sculptural form has translated into a contemporary space with the floors and undulating walls comprised of concrete. ‘lye was fascinated with temples and our design uses principles from the classical world, as well as polynesian forms and ideas,’ says the design director of patterson associates, andrew patterson. ‘these influenced lye and he was after all, the client.’

using a ‘systems methodology’, an adaptive approach to shaping the interiors was developed. rather than following classical proportion and aesthetics, the architects used patterns in the ecology of the project’s environments to drive design elements. this is seen in the colonnade, like a theatre curtain with the additional of three asymmetric ramped sides which leads onto the vestibule (pronaos in ancient greece) forming the gallery which houses the larger pieces of work. from above, the colonnade’s top edges references the shape of a ‘koru’- linking to the polynesian influences.

andrew patterson finishes with: ‘we hope the design challenges the dominance of pure modernism in contemporary thought. classicism has been unfashionable for many decades and the len lye museum seeks to extend modernist language with meaning. creating space that is more lucid, triumphant and celebratory than bauhaus traditions, but also more cogent and flowing than axis-generated architecture’.

the fluid, iridescent exterior composed of stainless steel is reminiscent of the kinetics and light seen in lye’s work