RICHMOND – Steven Holl Architects has revealed its plan for a contemporary arts centre at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va.
The 3530-sq-m ICA structure will contain performance spaces, a 247-seat auditorium, exhibition areas, sculpture garden, classrooms, café and offices. Ultimately, the space will be an all-in-one shop for students studying art, theatre, music, dance and film.
‘Like many contemporary artists working today, the ICA's design does not draw distinctions between the visual and performing arts,’ Holl says. ‘The fluidity of the design allows for experimentation, and will encourage new ways to display and present art that will capitalize on the ingenuity and creativity apparent throughout the VCU campus.’
The foyer will feature a double-height ‘forum’ that will be flexible for a variety of uses, including exhibitions, installations, live shows and commissions. Galleries will radiate from this central point, leading to the exhibition spaces and other functions. Large doors will open to the garden to create a ‘seamless interplay between interior and exterior spaces.’
Renderings courtesy of Steven Holl Architects
