It often happens that museum spaces are a work of art in and of themselves. They look bright and authentic; they cover lots of interesting works and have a conceptual idea behind them. In this post, we have collected the most high-profile museums and art galleries that opened their doors to visitors this year.
#1 – François Pinault Museum (Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection), Paris
This story is full of big names. The founder of the museum is the largest collector of contemporary art, billionaire François Pinault. The author of the reconstruction is the famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando. When working on this project, the architect demonstrated n incredible respect for the heritage. He did not touch the historic walls of the former 19th-century stock exchange but stepped back from them.
He erected a concrete cylinder in the central atrium, thanks to which the exhibition area almost doubled. And finally, he used Flos lamps, which were specially designed for the museum by the titled French duo – brothers Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec. They were also responsible for the interior of the restaurant, the design of the entrance area, and the courtyard.
#2 – New National Gallery (Neue Nationalgalerie), Berlin
This building is an architectural icon of 1968; it is also the only building by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in Europe after his immigration to the United States. The lightweight construction made of glass and steel withstood more than forty years of its intensive use. But by 2012, there was a need for a comprehensive reconstruction.
And David Chipperfield’s bureau was decided to take lead on the reconstruction project. David Chipperfield Architects’ project is not a new interpretation but rather a respectful renovation and engineering modernization of the monument. After restoration, 35,000 elements of the original finish have returned to their place! At the same time, new elements – a wardrobe, a cafe, a shop, functional technical structures – are unobtrusively read as new.
#3 – Museum of Art Pudong, Shanghai
In July 2021, the Museum of Art Pudong (MAP) opened on the central embankment of Shanghai, next to the main symbol of the city – the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. And the building immediately became famous. There are at least two reasons for that. First of all, the author of the project is the Pritzker Prize laureate Jean Nouvel. Secondly, the exhibition program is led by London’s Tate Britain and Tate Modern.
The modern architecture object deserves special attention since it is made as a perfect combination of glass and stone. The white granite building on the side of the embankment has a “mirrored” facade made of extra-thick energy-saving glass, which reflects and sparkles the waters of the Huangpu River. It looks just impressive and attracts the attention of people passing by it.
#4 – Museum of the Communist Party, China
A new museum dedicated to the history and main achievements of the Chinese Communists opens in Beijing in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party. On an area of 150 thousand square meters, there are more than 6,000 exhibits reflecting the history of the Chinese Communist Party and the most important events from the glorious past and present.
The museum exhibits are divided into four groups, each of which is dedicated to a specific historical period from the founding of the party to the present time. Special attention is paid to the Chinese space program and the coronavirus pandemic. Besides that, people can also watch archival photography from the ceremony of the proclamation of the People’s Republic of China by Mao Zedong on October 1, 1949.
The architecture of the museum has many hidden symbols. For example, the building is made in the form of the Chinese hieroglyph “gong,” which looks like a horizontal H. One of the meanings of this hieroglyph is “work” and “labor.” As conceived by the architects, the very shape of the museum should testify to the fact that the Chinese Communist Party is the vanguard of the Chinese working class, the Chinese people, and the nation. There are 28 columns on the east and west sides of the exhibition hall, symbolizing 28 years of struggle to create New China.