This just in from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: Steven Holl Architects will design its contemporary art building. If Holl (at right) is as sensitive and smart as he was for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s Bloch building, it’s an excellent choice. (See what I’ve written for the Wall Street Journal about that building here.)
Here’s what the museum says:
Cornelia Long, chair of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, announced today that Steven Holl Architects has been selected to partner with the board and staff of the museum in developing an expansion that enlarges the museum’s presentation of its collections, exhibitions and myriad educational programs. The project will entail the construction of a new museum building intended primarily for art after 1900 to complement the Audrey Jones Beck and Caroline Wiess Law Buildings. Further, the project will address the integration of the Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden and the expansion of the Glassell School of Art. A new parking facility will be added, as well. For more information, please see the attached news release.
I hope he pays not too much attention to the “complement” the other buildings there line. They are, in my view, abyssmal for showing art and none too pretty on the outside either.
Holl beat out Morphosis and Snøhetta to win the job. Their charge, and other details, are here.