Mario Botta Architetti

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

BECHTLER MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

Mario Botta

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
© Enrico Cano

ARCHITECTS
Mario Botta

MANUFACTURERS
Boston Valley Terra Cotta

PARTNER ARCHITECT
Wagner Murray Architects PA

CLIENTST
Andreas Bechtler

PHOTOGRAPHS
Joel Lassiter, Enrico Cano

SITE AREA
1912 m²

AREA
2490.0 m²

YEAR
2009

LOCATION
Charlotte, United States

CATEGORY
Museum

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
© Joel Lassiter
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
© Joel Lassiter

Text description provided by architect.

The museum is located in downtown Charlotte, a city that has undergone a rapid urban development in recent years.

It houses the works of art of Andreas Bechtlers’ collection with important artists such as Tinguely, Niki de Saint Phalle, Picasso, Giacometti, Matisse, Mirò, Degas, Warhol, Le Corbusier, Léger.

The cube-shaped building is hollow inside to offer an outdoor public courtyard that is outlined by the plastic volumes at the back.

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
© Joel Lassiter
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
© Enrico Cano
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
© Enrico Cano

The four-storey structure is characterized by the soaring glass atrium that extends through the core of the museum and diffuses natural light throughout the building thanks to a system of vaulted skylights. Despite its modest dimensions, a great plastic force is created by the play of solids and voids.

It can be thus defined as an architecture-sculpture where the voids mark a new urban space sheltered by the fourth floor gallery jutting out from the core of the building and supported by a huge single column rising from the plaza below.

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
© Enrico Cano
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
© Enrico Cano

The choice of the materials for the interior spaces and the terra cotta exterior cladding provide the museum with a rigorous, though elegant simplicity.


Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
Floor Plan
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
Floor Plan
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
Floor Plan
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
Section
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
Floor Plan

Mario Botta Architetti
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Mario Botta Architetti
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