The M. H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco, California is a fine arts museum first opened in 1895. Earthquakes have damaged the original building, and in 2005, a new structure was completed by Herzog & de Meuron. A twisting tower in the shape of an inverted pyramid is the most distinctive feature of its exterior. Located in Golden Gate Park, the new museum is sensitive to its natural setting. Landscaped gardens by Walter Hood harmonized the surroundings. In the Barbro Osher Sculpture Garden, a 21-foot safety pin adds an artistic element to this interesting property.
Vitra Haus By Herzog & de Meuron
Vitra Haus is the home of Vitra’s Home Collection located in the German town of Weil am Rhein which is a suburb of the city of Basel, Switzerland. Designed by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, Vitra Haus is a five-storey building with the theme of stacked houses on the Vitra Campus, joining the Vitra Design Museum. The striking architecture and the complexity of the interior space create an atmosphere that is both grand and intimate at the same time. The white interior walls allow the furniture displays to stand out. At night, the illuminated interior glows from within.
Beirut Terraces Vertical Village
The rehabilitation of the city of Beirut, Lebanon has inspired famed Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron to design Beirut Terraces. Situated in the prestigious Beirut Central District, this apartment tower is made up of slabs overlapping each other, with hanging gardens on every floor, creating a vertical village that blends the indoor and outdoor, views and privacy, landscape with architecture. The building’s extensive balconies allow natural light to come through, making it truly energy efficient. Due for completion in 2013, Beirut Terraces represents part of Beirut’s future with its contemporary waterfront living experience.