Photographs by Andy Ryan
Illustration by L-Dopa When the collection at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri, outgrew its space, architect Steven Holl faced a challenge. A new structure big enough to meet the museum's needs would undoubtedly overshadow the center's historic 1933 edifice. His solution: Go underground. Holl and his New York firm tucked 80 percent of the 165,000-square-foot expansion, called the Bloch Building, beneath a landscaped roof that blends into the museum's existing garden.
Of course, burying a gallery under 8 inches of sod could make for a dark, dungeon-like environment. So Holl came up with an innovative skylight system: five giant cubes of glass that jut above ground, channeling natural light into the 840-foot-long gallery (equivalent to a 70-story skyscraper laid on its side). These light boxes, along with strategically placed partitions and computer-controlled window screens, ensure the 220 permanent pieces look their best — and are unharmed by UV rays and the greenhouse effect. Jackson Pollock's paintings are drippy enough.
Light Channel The new building's glass cubes — called lenses — consist of panels that stand largely on their own with little framing to block light. (Internal T shaped partitions provide some support.) Above the arched ceilings are spaces for a library, a dining room, and more.
Lens Glass The glass was specially made for the cubes by Germany-based Glasfabrik Lamberts. Once a year, the glassmaker scrubs all of the iron deposits from its production line, allowing for a one-month output cycle of low-iron (pure white) glass.
Green Roof The bulk of the underground extension is folded into the Museum of Art's rolling landscape. Holl put a layer of dirt and greenery on the rooftop so the new building blends into its surroundings by incorporating the 22-acre sculpture garden.
Start Previous: Japanese Schoolgirl Watch: Nintendo DS As Life Coach Next: The Best Thought Experiments: Schrödinger's Cat, Borel's Monkeys
