In Situ Studio, Cristóbal Palma / Estudio Palma · NCMA Museum Park Visitor Center

Cristóbal Palma / Estudio Palma

The Museum Park Visitor Center bounds the south edge of the NCMA museum park, near a historic smoke stack that is a remnant of a long demolished children’s prison. The 1,158 SF building provides refreshment, information, and WCs for park visitors, a program that previously was only accessible in the main museum building. A broad roof curves in tune with the park landscape, extending towards the main park promenade and offering a sense of prospect and refuge. The east roof edge, nearest the park, shelters a gathering space from which visitors can view the promenade and contours of the distant park landscape. The building is long, low, and quiet, defining the south edge of the park landscape and serving as visual foil to the smokestack.