Architectural Cases

The renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has undergone a remarkable transformation within five of its key spaces, thanks to the visionary work of Brooklyn-based architecture studio Peterson Rich Office (PRO). This ambitious renovation project, spanning 12,000 square feet, has not only created new gallery and auxiliary areas but has also thoughtfully peeled back layers of history to expose and celebrate the museum's rich architectural evolution. The design intricately weaves together contemporary aesthetics with preserved historical elements, offering visitors a compelling journey through time while enhancing the functionality and visual appeal of these important cultural spaces.

Metropolitan Museum of Art Unveils Revitalized Galleries by Peterson Rich Office

In a significant architectural undertaking, Peterson Rich Office (PRO), a design firm headquartered in Brooklyn, has successfully finished the refurbishment of five distinct sections within the celebrated Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This comprehensive project aimed to highlight the institution's deeply layered architectural past by uncovering and integrating historic facades into the renewed spaces. These revamped areas, encompassing approximately 1,114 square meters (12,000 square feet), are strategically situated within a former courtyard, nestled between the original Great Hall by Richard Morris Hunt and other 19th-century constructions by architects Arthur Lyman Tuckerman and Calvert Vaux.

PRO's co-founder, Miriam Peterson, emphasized their approach to redefining the existing structures through a “hybrid space” concept, fostering a richer conversation between historical foundations and modern interventions. This philosophy is evident in the Orientation Gallery, located adjacent to the Great Hall, which features imposing 19-foot limestone openings and walls finished with traditional grey marmorino plaster, providing visual links to the museum's antiquities collection. Transitioning from this space through grand oak doors leads to the High Gallery, where contemporary design comes to the forefront with 21-foot ceilings that conceal technical infrastructure and employ a sophisticated indirect lighting system, ideal for its role as a rotating exhibition venue.

The inaugural display in the High Gallery focuses on Costume Art, coinciding with the annual Met Gala, exploring the social significance of clothing across various eras and body types. Further within the renovated section, the Low Gallery offers a more intimate setting, maintaining a consistent material palette of grey stone and white ceilings but with distinct track lighting. The Finale Gallery particularly exemplifies the “hybridity” principle, where one wall boasts a sleek, modern finish, contrasting sharply with an opposing wall deliberately stripped to reveal the original 19th-century brickwork and pilasters, showcasing the museum's architectural stratification. This area also includes a small retail space, catering to the rotating exhibitions. Nathan Rich, another co-founder of PRO, remarked on the intentional layering of spaces, designed to provide a cohesive experience that embraces the diverse architectural styles accumulated over the Met's nearly 150-year history.

This innovative renovation by Peterson Rich Office offers a profound reflection on the dialogue between history and contemporary design. It reminds us that venerable institutions are not static time capsules but living entities that evolve, adapt, and continually reinterpret their past to engage with the present. By consciously revealing the structural heritage of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, PRO has not only created aesthetically pleasing and functional spaces but has also enriched the visitor's experience, inviting a deeper appreciation for the interplay of architectural styles and the narratives they tell. This project serves as a compelling model for future endeavors in historical preservation and modern integration, demonstrating that thoughtful intervention can amplify the grandeur and relevance of our cultural landmarks without distorting their essential character.

In a triumph of adaptive reuse, an abandoned shopping mall in Moscavide, just north of Lisbon, has been spectacularly reimagined as the Oriente Green Campus. This visionary project, a collaboration between leading architectural firms KPF and Saraiva+Associados, stands as a testament to sustainable urban development, transforming a once-stalled commercial endeavor into a dynamic center for innovation, education, and collaboration. The 42,000-square-meter complex now houses modern workspaces and serves as a vital campus for the European University, breathing new life into the Parque das Nações district's evolution into a technology hub.

Lisbon's Architectural Phoenix Rises: The Oriente Green Campus

In the vibrant city of Lisbon, Portugal, a significant architectural metamorphosis has taken place. The collaborative efforts of architectural giants KPF and local experts Saraiva+Associados have culminated in the completion of the Oriente Green Campus. This ambitious undertaking involved repurposing the colossal framework of a defunct shopping mall, whose construction lay dormant since 2012, into a sprawling, modern complex of workspaces interwoven with lush green terraces and serene courtyards. Situated in Moscavide, a district flourishing north of Lisbon, the campus now proudly anchors the regeneration of the Parque das Nações area, marking its emergence as a pivotal technology and knowledge-economy nucleus. John Bushell, a principal at KPF, vividly characterized the original structure as a "hulk," emphasizing the immense challenge and subsequent triumph of breaking down its monolithic nature. The design ingeniously utilized the mall's expansive floor plates to sculpt a series of tiered terraces that gracefully descend towards verdant courtyards and expansive rooftop gardens, fostering an environment that is both aesthetically pleasing and conducive to productivity. The interior spaces, thoughtfully designed for flexibility, seamlessly integrate office and educational functions, showcasing minimalist aesthetics where original concrete floor plates are preserved, complemented by timber accents in communal zones like the café and auditorium. The campus boasts a total of nine diverse external spaces, expertly crafted by landscape studio JL Group, ranging from bustling public event areas to tranquil courtyards and private office terraces. These outdoor havens are interconnected by meandering pathways, gracefully curved planters, and striking spiral staircases made of white-painted steel, which encircle glass lift shafts, creating a harmonious blend of form and function. Furthermore, these external areas are crucial for ensuring natural ventilation throughout the surrounding workspaces through operable windows. The décor of the external façade features local terracotta tiles, glazed in a lustrous white, which also adorn the undersides of deep, plant-filled balconies, adding a distinctive regional touch to this contemporary masterpiece. This visionary project not only offers an inspiring blueprint for sustainable development but also brilliantly marries functionality with aesthetic appeal, proving that even the most formidable abandoned structures can be transformed into beacons of progress and environmental consciousness.

The successful transformation of the Oriente Green Campus offers a compelling blueprint for urban renewal and sustainable architecture. It underscores the potential in repurposing existing infrastructure, rather than always building anew, thereby significantly reducing embodied carbon and fostering environmental responsibility. This project serves as an inspiring example for city planners and architects globally, demonstrating how thoughtful design can convert neglected urban spaces into vibrant, community-centric hubs that blend seamlessly with their historical surroundings while meeting modern demands for flexibility, greenery, and sustainable living.