Parrish Art Museum in Long Island by Herzog & de Meuron

photo: Jeff Cully

Swiss architects Jaques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron completed the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill on Long Island after six years, which consists of two elongated structures with a distinctly offset gabled roof. The original architectural intent was, in fact, completely the opposite: the authors imagined a series of small objects scattered across the field instead of today’s linear mass, which was meant to resemble a chaotically grown village settlement and refer to the local artistic community. The Parrish Art Museum represents a long-standing institution serving local artists on the eastern end of Long Island. The new museum, completed on November 10, 2012, helped to triple the total exhibition area (almost 3200m²).
The simple form is based on the proven shape of an artist's studio with a skylight facing north. Both parallel wings surround a central node and reveal giant covered porches at the ends. The core of the entire project consists of ten gallery rooms, which are set into a regular grid. The exhibition rooms have exposed roof structures through which diffused daylight enters from the north. The operational section with storage, workspaces, and supplies is located at the eastern end. The western side is designated for representative functions such as an entrance lobby, a gift shop, a café, and educational rooms.
The structure of the entire building consists of simple, sequentially arranged frames. In selecting materials, the architects drew from locally available resources. The immense scale gains a human dimension thanks to a continuous bench inviting sitting and observing the surrounding landscape. The diagonal placement of the museum on the site arises from the northern orientation of the skylights, which at the same time opens up a “dramatic transformation of the perspective of the entire building” to incoming visitors.

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“We are filled with excitement at what is certain to be a life-changing experience. With the opportunity to permanently showcase our remarkable collection, along with our innovative temporary exhibitions, special projects, programs, and educational outreach, the Parrish will be the East End’s vital center for cultural engagement, a catalyst for creativity, a place you will want to visit over and over again.”