Philly's New Masterpiece

Hosting the renowned collections of the late Albert C. and Laura L. Barnes, the new downtown Philadelphia campus of The Barnes Foundation first opened its doors to the public in May. Designed by Tod Williams and Billy Tsien Architects, the museum is situated on a 4.5-acre site on the north side of Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

While the immaculate new facility is stunningly beautiful, this 93,000 square-foot addition to the city’s cultural district almost didn’t come to fruition after a legal battle erupted over the right to relocate the collections from the foundation’s campus in nearby Merion. The permanent gallery, over 12,000 square feet, holds most of the Barnes’ estimated $25 billion collection and is designed to replicate the configuration and scale of the original gallery. In addition, the building contains a special exhibition space as well as areas for education, conservation for paintings and relaxation for visitors.

Check it out at www.barnesfoundation.org

Photography © 2012 The Barnes Foundation