Eight Art Galleries Featuring Exposed Concrete Architecture
A curated selection of global galleries utilizing concrete to create contemplative exhibition spaces.
1Concrete as Artistic Medium
Modern architecture increasingly utilizes exposed concrete to frame artistic expression. This selection highlights eight global galleries where structural concrete forms the primary aesthetic, creating contemplative environments for diverse artworks. These projects range from high-profile museum extensions to modest pavilions, illustrating the versatile and enduring nature of concrete in contemporary design.
2The David Geffen Galleries
Designed by Peter Zumthor, this Los Angeles County Museum of Art extension features a curving concrete structure. The gallery spans Wilshire Boulevard, supported by seven unevenly scattered pavilions. Wrapped in a ribbon of glazing, the elevated design creates a unique visual presence while providing expansive space for the museum's growing collection.
3Casa das Histórias Paula Rego
Located in Cascais, Portugal, this gallery by Eduardo Souto de Moura features two pyramid-like chimneys. The interior is enclosed by red-concrete walls, organized into a sequence of rooms tailored to specific artwork formats. The design accommodates everything from small lithographs to large-scale paintings within its distinctively shaped, minimalist concrete shell.
4Xiao Feng Art Museum
Chinese studio ZAO/standardarchitecture designed this angular concrete building in Hangzhou to loop around a central courtyard. The structure rises and falls, creating bridge-like elements that guide visitors toward the center. This design choice fosters a fluid movement through the space, connecting the interior gallery areas with the open-air courtyard.
5Museum SAN Subterranean Dome
Tadao Ando created a subterranean concrete dome in Wonju, South Korea, specifically to house Antony Gormley's sculptures. Spanning 25 meters in width, the cave-like space is illuminated by a central oculus. This architectural intervention provides a dramatic, enclosed environment that emphasizes the texture and form of the cast-iron art pieces.
6Nubuke Extended and Glenstone
In Ghana, Baerbel Mueller and Juergen Strohmayer designed a raised concrete gallery with high ceilings and a mezzanine level. Meanwhile, at the Glenstone Museum in Maryland, Thomas Phifer and Partners utilized cast-in-place structural concrete for a rectangular gallery dedicated to Richard Serra, relying solely on skylights for interior illumination and atmosphere.
7Anselm Kiefer Pavilion
David Chipperfield Architects returned to the Carmen Würth Forum in Germany to add a monolithic concrete gallery. This space was specifically constructed to house a large-scale artwork by Anselm Kiefer that was previously too massive for the main museum. Rooflights provide the necessary illumination to highlight the work's intricate surface details.
8Ginkgo Gallery Design Philosophy
MORE Architecture designed the Ginkgo Gallery in Jiaxing as a deliberate contrast to China's trend of large-scale museum construction. Located on an island in a manmade lake, the structure features scooped concrete ceilings and board-marked surfaces. These horizontal patterns across walls and roofs create a human-scaled, intimate experience for gallery visitors.
Original article: Dezeen — Eight Art Galleries Featuring Exposed Concrete Architecture