Steven Holl’s Modern Art Museum is a Luminous Iceberg

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/03/15/steven-holls-horizontal-skyscraper/" target="_blank">Steven Holl</a>'s <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/25/bloch-building-by-steven-holl/" target="_blank">Bloch Building</a> was completed over three years ago, but even now the beautiful extension to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City continues to garner significant acclaim. The luminous energy-efficient modern art museum boasts a green roof garden and a beautiful translucent facade that floods the interior spaces with light throughout the day. The extension serves to compliment the existing buildings by bringing a modern green vision to the historic museum.

The Bloch Building was originally completed in 2007 and serves as the modern extension to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

The light-filled building soaks up light during the day and releases it at night as a shining series of blocks in the landscape.

Located in Kansas City, the art museum extension has served to draw attention to the arts and culture of the plains state. Its design has generated significant praise for Steven Holl and his team.

Conceived as the opposite of the original museum, the extension is the "Feather" to the original museum's "Stone".

The building is light, airy, and open with an outward-facing view of the exterior sculpture gardens.

"Light lenses" on the exterior of the buildings gather, refract and diffuse light toward the interior, illuminating the exhibitions with natural daylight.

The interior space is conceived as its own work of art but serves as a backdrop for the other works.

The open floor plan allows for flexibility in hosting exhibitions.

The ceilings and walkways are constructed of pre-cast concrete waves.

Meanwhile, "Breathing Ts" act as light wells and ventilation channels to help the building achieve higher energy efficiency.

Computers precisely control the climate for each area and exhibit.

Windows look out to the exterior courtyards and sculpture garden.

The light lenses are the building's main design feature, gathering light for the interior during the day and releasing it back out at night.

The Bloch Building has won a number of awards in the last few years, including the 2008 AIA HONOR AWARD, USA, 2008; AIA CENTRAL STATES ARCHITECTURE AWARD, USA, 2007; LEAF NEW BUILT AWARD, United Kingdom, 2007; AIA NEW YORK CHAPTER ARCHITECTURE HONOR AWARD, USA, 2008; CAPSTONE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AWARD, USA, 2008; AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS NATIONAL HONOR AWARD, USA, 2008; BBVA FOUNDATION FRONTIERS OF KNOWLEDGE AWARD, Spain, 2009

The "stone", which is the original museum, is contrasted with the "feather", the new extension. Whereas the stone is heavy, directed and bounded, the feather is light, airy, free and open.

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