Menil Collection

Menil Collection

Dominique and John de Menil asked Renzo Piano in 1981 to make a museum in Houston to host their collection of primitive African art and modern surrealist art, one of the most important in the world. Madame de Menil's first request was that all works could be observed in natural light, and she wanted a space that would favor a direct and relaxed relationship between visitor and work of art, a non-monumental environment. The natural lighting of the exhibition environments is the solution that characterizes the building. The goal was to promote a mediated light diffusion in the showrooms, without losing the sense of mood swings. At the end of a long survey, a basic structural element was defined, the so-called "ferrous" leaf (thickness 25 mm) which, repeated 300 times, is the roofing platform designed to fulfill the dual filtration function: the light and the thermal screen.

Project data

Design

1981 - 1984

Construction

1984 - 1987

Site Area

19100 m2

Total floor area

10900 m2

Height

13,4 m

Floors

2 + 1 basement

Credits

Client

The Menil Foundation

Architect

Piano & Fitzgerald, architects

Consultants

Ove Arup & Partners (P. Rice, N. Nobel, J. Thornton) (structure); Hayne & Whaley Associates (services); Galewsky & Johnston (local services) ; R. Jensen (fire prevention)