December is a good month for Miami; the creative crowds flock to the Florida capital to bask in the winter sun and take in the cultural treats that the season’s fairs, such as Design Miami and Art Basel Miami Beach, have to offer. Kicking off the festivities this year is the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami, which has just unveiled its new home by Aranguren + Gallegos Arquitectos – the Spanish firm’s first foray into the US.
The ICA’s bespoke new building was designed by the architects to reflect its ‘commitment to the contemporary and to serving and engaging with its community’, as well as provide a platform for the exchange of art and ideas, they explain. Located in the heart of the Miami Design District, the generous 37,500 sq ft building has tripled the museum’s exhibition area.
A constellation of metal triangles and glass panels, the structure is light and inviting. A generous lobby leads to a sculpture garden at the back, as well as up to the first floor galleries. The shows are spread across three levels, in rooms flexible enough to accommodate different types of exhibits. A glazed wall is strategically placed to bring into the halls plenty of natural northern light. Further space is dedicated to educational and community programming.
The Madrid-based architects are no strangers to designing for the arts, as their portfolio already includes works such as the Museo ABC in Madrid, the National Visual Arts Center in Madrid, and the Archeological Museum of Córdoba. Here, true to form, the firm aimed to create an integrated experience for the visitor, which combines modern art and architecture, as well as some striking views of the Miami cityscape.
Tracing the history and legacy of the artist’s studio, the ICA Miami launches with an exhibition that focuses on this most fascinating of spaces, spanning the post-war period, through to the present day.
The light and airy building is a constellation of metal triangles and glass panels Courtesy of ICA Miami
The new ICA features three levels of exhibition space. Courtesy of ICA Miami
A generous lobby leads to a sculpture garden at the back of the building. Courtesy of ICA Miami.
The program included space for educational and community programming. Courtesy of ICA Miami
The architects wanted to create a building where contemporary art meets modern architecture. Courtesy of ICA Miami
The new ICA Miami is in the heart of the Miami Design District. Courtesy of ICA Miami
The building shows the institution’s ‘commitment to the contemporary and to serving and engaging with its community’. Courtesy of ICA Miami.
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the ICA Miami website and Aranguren + Gallegos Arquitectos website
ADDRESS
ICA Miami
61 NE 41st Street
Miami
-
The Park: step inside Jeremy King's mid-century dinerOne of several 2024 openings from restauranteur, Jeremy King, food critic Ben McCormack books in at The Park
-
Six brilliant bars for your 2025 celebrations, hot off the Wallpaper* travel deskWallpaper’s most-read bar reviews of the year can't be wrong: here’s inspiration for your festive and new year plans, from a swanky Las Vegas lounge to a minimalist London drinking den
-
Misfires and Monstrosities: three vehicular design disasters that show taste is in retreatFrom a multi-million dollar piece merchandise to a wretched Rolls-Royce, these are the low points of the year in transportation design
-
Design Miami 2024 is alive with possibility: here are 14 things to seeDesign Miami 2024 opens 4-8 December – let Wallpaper* guide you to the highlights, from dazzling installations to plump sofas and anthropomorphic sculptures
-
Design Miami 2022: highlights from the fair and around townDesign Miami 2022 (30 November – 4 December) aims at ‘rebooting the roots of our relationship with nature and collective structures, ecospheres, and urban contexts’
-
Nendo’s collaborations with Kyoto artisans go on view in New York‘Nendo sees Kyoto’ is on view at Friedman Benda (until 15 October 2022), showcasing the design studio's collaboration with six artisans specialised in ancient Japanese crafts
-
Italian craftsmanship comes to Los Angeles in this eclectic Venice Canals apartmentBoffi Los Angeles celebrates a juxtaposition of texture throughout a waterside bolthole
-
Design Miami/Basel 2022 explores the Golden AgeDesign Miami/Basel 2022, led by curatorial director Maria Cristina Didero, offers a positive spin after the unprecedented times of the pandemic, and looks at the history and spirit of design
-
Kvadrat’s flagship New York showrooms encompass colourful design codesIndustrial designer Jonathan Olivares and architect Vincent Van Duysen have worked with Danish textile brand Kvadrat on the vast new space, also featuring furniture by Moroso
-
What to see at New York Design Week 2022Discover Wallpaper’s highlights from New York Design Week 2022 (10 – 20 May 2022): the fairs, exhibitions and design openings to discover
-
Colour defines LA ceramics studio and showroom of Bari ZipersteinStep inside the multifunctional ceramics studio, office and showroom of designer and artist Bari Ziperstein, designed by local firm Foss Hildreth
