Dazzling Circa Art Gallery in South Africa is Wrapped in an Ellipse of Bark-Hued Fins

Sometimes architects try to shut nature out of their building projects, but <a href="http://www.studiomas.co.za/">StudioMAS</a> from South Africa has taken a different approach with this dazzling <a href="http://www.circaonjellicoe.co.za/?m=1">Circa on Jellicoe art gallery</a> in an upscale suburb of Johannesburg. Not only does nature play a lead role in the design concept, but she is even encouraged to eventually take over. This philosophy is evident throughout the multimedia art gallery - from the bark-colored aluminum fin facade, which also allows the building to breathe, to the planted ivy scrims.

Nature plays a lead role in the design of the Circa on Jellicoe Art Gallery in South Africa

StudioMAS created a breathable facade comprised of anodized aluminum fins

The fins are multi-colored, based on the multi-colored hue of bark

Inside most of the rooms are heated and cooled by passive design

The breathable envelope also ensures plenty of natural ventilation and lighting

In places where there a need for more heating and cooling, the designers created natural-gas powered heat and evaporative cooling

All lighting is made up of LEDs

An ivy-planted wall reflects the designers' desire to allow nature to take over as it should

The landscaped garden both reflects and caters to the need for a green urban gathering space

A manmade aquifer collects rainwater as nature intended it

Detail of the facade!