Introduction
More often than not, people have viewed architect as just simple; a discipline that does not involve several topics, however, this not the case. Over the recent years, architectural designs have turned out be a subject a several disciplines conjoined. It goes beyond the physical outlook; it involves the finer things people would want to enjoy. The technology of architectural designs is fast revolving; people are more demanding, tailor-made designs are becoming the order of the day. Furthermore, architectural designs are easily criticized if there exist any kind of imperfection than that which is perfectly built (Rasmussen 57).
The Perez Art Museum Miami is one of the most spectacular museums in the City of Florida. It is a contemporary museum is strategically paved in the Downtown Miami (Pallasmaa 16). It is spectacular for both the art lovers and architects; nonetheless, its design is quite captivating. However, the museum is relatively old, it is reported that the park was founded in the year 1984. During that time, it served as a center for fine art earning it the name the Miami Art Museum in the year 1996. However, the center became renown in the year 2013 when a new building was designed. The new building was designed by Herzog and De Menron. The design and restructuring of a new museum building is a manifestation that integrates traditional architecture into the modern context. Thus, a blend between traditional and modern architectural design gives a stylistic captivation for two distinct periods of time.
Discussion
The Perez Art Museum Miami was designed by Herzog and Menron. The building however, has received acclaims from the greater portion of the American publics as well as renowned architects. Some of the major publications in the United States of America have praised the Museum for its exemplary architectural attributes (Rasmussen 61). The New York Times for example described the building as spectacular while the Wall Street Journal on its side referred to the building as instrumental; a design that can be used as a reference for other architectural designs.
However, there are several other things that make the Museum spectacular, in fact, the building easily marries with its surrounding. A visit to the museum gives one a splendid view of the architectural works the building is made of. Great architects have described the building as a building that became instrumental to its surrounding. The architectural concepts were most likely drawn from the environment in which the building exists (Ando 35). The magnificence of the design is what makes it stands out of the rest; in the whole neighborhood of Downtown Miami.
The museum has a close proximity to water; it is closely placed to the sea. Due to its proximity to water, the museum is lifted above the ground; the major reason this was done was to place the building above the storm surge level. The level at which the museum is placed above water makes it safe from even the highest storms ever witnessed, it means, storms can freely flow underneath without affecting neither the building nor the art lovers. Such an architectural design is quite fascinating; an Art lovers paradise (Pallasmaa 18). The space below the museum is used for several purposes; however, it is majorly used for open air parking. The space is exposed to direct sunlight and fresh air, moreover, it can comfortably handle the storm water runoff; the design was made in such a way it can easily handle storm water as the coast of Miami is frequented by storms.
Another fascinating feature about the museum is that the stilts that support platform of the museum also becomes columns that supports the shading canopy; the canopy covers almost the whole place thus creating a veranda-like place, a place used by the public for viewing purposes. Consequently, there is a wide stair case that is used to connect the platform to the waterfront. The waterfront promenade, is yet another spectacular point of the museum, it gives the museum its magnificent features (Pallasmaa 23). The architectural works of the museum was designed in such a way that it gives the museum a generous view to the outside environment; it can be pretty boring if a museum does not give a spectacular view to the outside.
Furthermore, the museum has expansive recessed windows; these windows are made of wooden planks under the concrete beams in order to minimize the impact of the sun on the glazing. Moreover, the wooden plank also reduces the Museum’s energy consumption for its cooling. The distinct architectural works makes the feeling from inside splendid; it’s quite difficult to distinguish whether one is in a crowded hall or not since the atmosphere is more serene just as outside. There is also an element of selectivity in the building materials used in the building, tropical plants were carefully selected; these plants are used for their resilience and their ability to engulf the overall structural system.
The roof and the surrounding plants create a microclimate in and around the museum. The microclimate minimizes the extreme temperature gaps both inside and outside during hot weather. The choice of building materials is a fundamental aspect of any architectural design. An architectural design is all about the types of materials used; they must marry and complement the design without which the design will be stale. All the same, a well-designed building with poor materials is as good as a poorly designed building (Pallasmaa 26). A building which is expected to hold a big population is expected to have stronger beams to support the massive weight just as the Perez Art Museum Miami.
The Museum provides both comfortable and serene public arena for everyone. The primary function of a museum is to provide a conducive environment for the public; these are some of the functions that the Perez Art Museum Miami offers to both the art lovers and the general public (Rasmussen 77). In fact, the museum has been termed as an extension of the park; the museum offers what architects have termed as gradual transitions from the outside to the inside, one can hardly notice a change from the outside and the inside environment. Just the same way its warm outside, it’s also warm inside the museum, in short, it’s cool or warm, humid or dry, just as the outside; no big disparity. This is yet another positive attribute of this museum with regards to design principles and its ability to give the necessary ambience it deserves. Either, the design of the building are positive to provide optimal condition to occupants, who would not only love the view, but also enjoy the serenity of the environment inside the buildings.
Conclusion
The Perez Art Museum Miami still remains a spectacular building in the Downtown Miami due to its distinct architectural designs. The uniqueness of the building is what earns it the reputation. The conditions it offers for the art lovers is quite unique, several architectural designs have in the past failed to comfortably handle the huge population of the art lovers. However, for Perez Art Museum Miami, it’s quite different; the building can comfortably hold a huge population of up to 150,000 people, all comfortably seated and proceed to offer outside-like environmental situations. The Perez Art Museum is able to accommodate this huge capacity of occupants due to its design portfolio, and due to the fact that the building is centralized to host such level of occupancy.
Since the opening of the new building in the year 2013, the building has continually gained reputation as it serves the art lovers effectively. The feeling from inside is quite fascinating just the same way the outside look is appealing to the eye. A good architectural design is that that combines beauty and purpose. It would be meaningless if the museum was beautifully built if it cannot serve its purpose (Ando 42). However, if the physical outlook was not appealing too, people would not have liked it altogether. But since the architects, Herzog and de Menron put all these considerations in their design, the building is most appealing not to the performing arts but also the general public.
Since its opening the building has remained as center of attraction. It receives several guests on daily basis with one single aim, to enjoy the park and see the fascinating artistic works performed at the building while at the same time admiring its architectural works.
Works cited
Ando, Tadao. “Shintai and Space,” in Architecture and Body, ed. Scott Marble, et al . New York:
Rizzoli, 1988.Print.
Pallasmaa, Juhani. The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses. (Chichester: Wiley &
Sons).
Rasmussen, Steen Eiler, “Contrasting Effects of Solids and Cavities,” in Experiencing
Architecture (Cambridge: MIT Press, 1959 .Print.1985. Reprint.
