Blanton Museum of Art Grounds Redesign

Snøhetta has created a comprehensive grounds redesign for The Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas at Austin with the goal of making an accessible and inclusive gathering space; one that unites the political core of the city represented by the State Capital and Texas Mall to the south and the historic fabric and academic character of the University to the north. The landscape focused work unifies and reinvigorates the museum’s exterior spaces and artwork across approximately 2 acres. It also includes creative adaptive reuse of two existing museum buildings and careful preservation and recontextualization of Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin. 

The landscape design unifies the grounds through a coordinated selection of materials drawing on existing conditions, the character of the campus, and the Texas Hill Country ecosystems. Limestone plazas work together with public shade sculptures and architectural additions to give the Blanton Museum of Art a bold presence that reflects its new artistic direction.  

Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin holds a place of pride on the museum’s northern side, while the Moody Patio encompasses two adjacent stages for performances and includes new landscaping, a lawn, and a variety of seating areas with portable furniture to encourage movement and shifting perspective. The lawn serves to amplify the Blanton’s popular and innovative programming, creating a center for the community to come together around art and music. 

With the goal of turning the museum inside out, the approach through the "Sound Garden" walk was conceived to optimize the experience of the existing Kelly and lead up to the petal sculptures. The Kay Rosen mural at the drop off and the plantings framing the Kelly silhouette intensify the approach, setting the stage for the Gabriel Dawe installation in the Smith Lobby ticketing area. When crossing over to the Michener wing of the Museum, Caroline Herrera's final mural is visible in the arcade. The redesigned landscape creates spaces for engagement, contemplation, and performances even before entering the museum. 

From Congress Avenue, visitors approach the courtyard under a canopy of dramatic petal sculptures which offer a threshold from the busy streetscape. Rising above the trees and plantings of the central gathering space, the canopy of petal sculptures creates a shaded microclimate with dappled light that follows the sun. Their curving outlines, inspired by the arched vaults of the loggia that outline the museum, help highlight views of Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin and the Texas State Capitol.  

Adapted for a climate future that will see more intense weather, the design work is conscientious of shading strategies, enhancement and protection of soils, and management of water. Standing 40 feet tall, each petal is made of perforated panels and spans 30 feet in diameter. Equipped with drainage that moves water from the upper canopy through the column down to grade, the petals allow for infiltration and passive irrigation into the surrounding subgrade. The perforations of the petals, while smooth on the exterior, are raised on the inside moving water toward the drainage system. When the soil is saturated, overflows within the system allow water to move to the stormwater garden area. 

Throughout the grounds, more than 25,000 new plants have been added. The plantings for the campus were carefully selected through a variety of environmental considerations with an overall desire to establish feelings of comfort and support. The project’s planting draws upon species proven to succeed on the campus, underpinning the design goals with pragmatism around maintenance and climatic suitability. Wherever possible, existing vegetation was maintained. Multi-stem crape myrtles step down the scale of the existing oaks, framing the entrance to the plaza.

The Faulkner Garden sees the most expressive and dynamic vegetation with a wide range of sun and shade conditions and hydrologic character within its bounds. Accessible routes meander through robust landforms and interplay with the loggia, welcoming visitors and creating a natural entrance to the museum.