The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego unveils a bigger and brighter new space

After a four year renovation and expansion project, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) has once again reopened its doors. Selldorf Architects has taken the helm on the project, which now offers four times the amount of gallery space, two levels of galleries and a public park, as well as giving access to stunning views over the Pacific Coast.

The opening marks the culmination of a project which began in 2014, when Selldorf Architects planned to not only increase the gallery space from the existing 10,000 square feet to 40,000 square feet, but also allow for both MCASD’s permanent collections and visiting exhibitions.

Annabelle Selldorf on the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

‘With the Selldorf expansion, MCASD’s flagship building is, at last, scaled to showcase the work it has collected over the past decades,’ says Kathryn Kanjo, director and CEO of MCASD. ‘Soaring ceilings and natural light allow for inviting displays of the collection alongside lively changing exhibitions. The design honours the Museum’s rich architectural history as it frames distinctive views of the village and the coast, providing an updated space for the art and for today’s audience.’

For principal architect Annabelle Selldorf, the goal was both to install an inclusive spirit in the design, and make the most of the dramatic location on the La Jolla coastline, with new seaside terraces offering views over the Pacific Ocean. ‘The addition to MCASD provides new gallery space to the south of the existing buildings,’ she says. ‘In shifting the centre of gravity and entry sequence, we were able to knit together different geometries and achieve an overall volume of the museum that reads as one and nevertheless respects the presence of architectural expressions of multiple generations of the institution.’

By working in harmony with the location, the design ultimately opens up the gallery to the elements, making for an open and welcoming space. Kanjo adds: ‘The architecture connects the experience of art to the experience of nature in a way that didn’t previously exist. The design rejects the notion of the hermetically sealed white cube and instead brings the outdoors into the museum space. Selldorf Architects has opened up MCASD and let in the light.’ 

INFORMATION

mcasd.org