Besthoff Sculpture Pavilion

New Orleans, LA

A 5,000 square foot gallery pavilion for indoor sculpture is set among mature live oaks within a six-acre expansion of the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art. The pavilion's elliptical massing sits in front of a continuous curving garden wall that appears to be the perimeter edge of the site while hiding the pavilion's back of house service spaces. One enters the new building through a courtyard framed by the elliptical gallery, a mature live oak tree, and artist Teresita Fernandez's site-specific tile mosaic that embellishes the southern section of the curved garden wall. A covered terrace off of the gallery's broad side affords elevated and expansive views across the lagoon to sculptures set throughout the new garden addition. The gallery's elliptical shape is reflected inside through clean, smooth, curving walls which encourage movement around sculptures installed in the space. Eighteen-foot ceilings, a prerequisite of the museum, allow for the display of tall sculptures. Continuous skylights around the room's perimeter wash the walls with light and balance daylight that enters through the large expanse of glazing. Landscape Architect: Reed Hilderbrand, Cambridge, MA Lighting Designer: Lam Partners, Cambridge, MA