Herzog & de Meuron
Project
2020-2025

541_CP_250909_3768_IB_H

541_CP_250909_3768_IB_H

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541_CP_250909_3108_IB_H

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541_CP_250910_5004_IB_H

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541_CP_250909_2285_IB_H

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541_CP_250910_4040_IB_H

Process

The site is along Benjamin Franklin Parkway, an important axis that runs across Philadelphia between the Museum of Art and the Swan Memorial Fountain. This axis has public sculptures by two generations of the Calder family—with works by both Calder’s father and grandfather. The site’s triangular shape is a leftover from 1990s planning for the Vine Street Expressway.

541_SI_0000_001_The-Fairmount-Parkway-DESIGN1

541_SI_0000_001_The-Fairmount-Parkway-DESIGN1

541_SI_0000_Parkway-Philadelphia_2

541_SI_0000_Parkway-Philadelphia_2

541_SI_211028_Calder-garden-chambers_lecture_Final_27

541_SI_211028_Calder-garden-chambers_lecture_Final_27

541_SI_0000_Site-7

541_SI_0000_Site-7

Rather than emphasizing forms and colors as in his artwork, we studied how his pieces occupied their environments—Calder’s studios and homes—and incorporated these spatial qualities into the design.

541_RFsb_005_Calder_Roxbury-Studio

541_RFsb_005_Calder_Roxbury-Studio

541_RFar_020_Calder_Single_Exhibitions_New-Gallery-Cambridge

541_RFar_020_Calder_Single_Exhibitions_New-Gallery-Cambridge

541_RFsb_0000_om-pom-alexander-calder-house-3

541_RFsb_0000_om-pom-alexander-calder-house-3

541_CI_2001_011_Model-trees-level_scan

541_CI_2001_011_Model-trees-level_scan

541_CI_2001_012_Model-mid-level_scan

541_CI_2001_012_Model-mid-level_scan

541_SK_200505_006_JH

541_SK_200505_006_JH

The overall design was developed by Jacques Herzog through a process of exchanging sketches, emails, and text messages with the project team to test gestural ideas. This is now shared in the book “Calder Gardens” by Hauser & Wirth Publishers.

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541_SK_200415_JH_575_K

541_SK_200415_JH_576_K

541_SK_200415_JH_576_K

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541_SK_200502_JH_632_K

Many concepts were explored, including a vertical stack of studios or exhibition spaces with connecting ramps.

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541_SK_200113_JH_643-V_K

541_CI_2001_011_Model-trees-level_scan

541_CI_2001_011_Model-trees-level_scan

541_MO_2002_001_all-models_IMG_0225

541_MO_2002_001_all-models_IMG_0225

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541_MO_2003_054

The project evolved into a more horizontal, nonlinear layout—a sequence of unexpected spaces that unfold and reveal themselves as visitors move through the building rather than a singular form.

541_MO_230515_001

541_MO_230515_001

541_CO_250825_081_JAF-Site Visit

541_CO_250825_081_JAF-Site Visit

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DSC04410_ajpg

530_MU_230531_179_Mock-up Review

530_MU_230531_179_Mock-up Review

541_SA_221115_017_Site Sample Review

541_SA_221115_017_Site Sample Review

541_MU_241230_008_SS_Wing Wall Panel

541_MU_241230_008_SS_Wing Wall Panel

541_CO_250304_025_JAF Site Visit

541_CO_250304_025_JAF Site Visit

541_CO_250404_081_Site Progress

541_CO_250404_081_Site Progress

On the other side, the Wall is expressed as a simple barn-like structure facing Vine St., referencing traditional American architecture.

541_CI_2110_Highway-8-CAV

541_CI_2110_Highway-8-CAV

541_MU_2305_047_Facade Mockup

541_MU_2305_047_Facade Mockup

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541_SA_2305_036_Wood_Samples.JPG(1)

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541_MU_230531_093_Mock-up_Review.JPG

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IMG_1424

541_CO_250211_061_Shotcrete_Light Gray Review

541_CO_250211_061_Shotcrete_Light Gray Review

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530_MU_230531_163_Mock-up Review

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DSC04407_a

The Disc defines the entry point, creating a gathering space for visitors and an outdoor location for Calder’s art. Pathways from the northeast and northwest corners of the site draw visitors through the garden towards a single central opening in the Wall where a folded metal canopy covers a wood-lined entry area.

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541_CI_2505_027_Entry_001

541_CO_240911_070_VG_N Wall Pour 4

541_CO_240911_070_VG_N Wall Pour 4

541_CO_250422_071_Site Progress

541_CO_250422_071_Site Progress

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541_SA_241226_005_Precast_Finish

530_MU_230531_112_Mock-up Review

530_MU_230531_112_Mock-up Review

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541_CO_250813_026_Artwork-Install-SONY-Photos

541_CO_250825_040_JAF-Site Visit

541_CO_250825_040_JAF-Site Visit

The lobby is domestic in scale—different than the typical large-scale spaces that define most museum entryways.

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541_CI_2403_198_Lobby-wood_No-Mobile

541_CO_241203_005_Site Progress

541_CO_241203_005_Site Progress

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541_CO_250312_004_Site Progress

541_CO_250825_243_a_JAF-Site Visit

541_CO_250825_243_a_JAF-Site Visit

From the lobby, visitors descend to the galleries below. A large stair brings people down to the Highway Gallery, doubling as a small auditorium for gathering.

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541_CI_2305_085_Highway-gallery

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541_CO_240507_58_Progress

541_CO_240528_54_Concrete Walkthrough

541_CO_240528_54_Concrete Walkthrough

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IMG_1902

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541_CO_240829_027_Site Progress

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541_CO_250724_123_Site Progress

A linear window frames a view of the highway and city. From the Highway Gallery, visitors can look into the Tall Gallery below. A beam separates the Tall Gallery from the space below the Disc—the narrow slot above the beam offers a glimpse into the gallery beyond.

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541_CI_2305_128_tall-shade

541_CO_240528_52_Concrete Walkthrough

541_CO_240528_52_Concrete Walkthrough

541_CO_250429_002_Site Progress

541_CO_250429_002_Site Progress

541_CO_250826_115_JAF-Site Visit

541_CO_250826_115_JAF-Site Visit

From the Highway Gallery, visitors descend through the Cuboid Stair lined with dark, rough concrete. A nook on the stair landing can be used to display artwork.

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541_CI_2204_075_Stair_black-shotcrete-low-lights-brighter

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541_CO_241029_012_Site Progress

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541_CO_250121_019_Site Progress_Devices

541_CO_250128_100_Shotcrete_Shoot Dark Gray

541_CO_250128_100_Shotcrete_Shoot Dark Gray

541_CO_250115_062_Site Progress

541_CO_250115_062_Site Progress

541_CO_250210_007_Shotcrete_Light Gray

541_CO_250210_007_Shotcrete_Light Gray

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541_CO_250722_064_Site Progress

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541_CO_250724_145_Site Progress

From the stair, visitors pass through the Tall Gallery and encounter the daylit Open Plan Gallery. The geometry of the Open Plan Gallery is orthogonal on the east and west and curved towards the north, reflecting the Disc above.

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541_MO_200629_006

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541_CI_2106_DT15_250325_Open_Plan_Gallery_001

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541_CO_240305_19_Wall-Pour-09

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541_CO_240521_06_Progress

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541_CO_250211_028_Site Progress

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541_CO_250724_214_Site Progress

The Apse Gallery is created from two offset curved walls—this gallery has no visible corners to distract from the view of the artwork inside.

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541_CI_2201_340_Apse

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541_CO_241210_035_Site Progress

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541_CO_250218_196_Site Progress_Wood_Plaster

541_CO_250515_046_Site Progress

541_CO_250515_046_Site Progress

541_CO_250519_008_Site Progress

541_CO_250519_008_Site Progress

530_CO_250304_015_CF JAF_ Site Visit

530_CO_250304_015_CF JAF_ Site Visit

From the Open Plan Gallery, a narrow slot reveals the Sunken Garden and the entry to the Curved Gallery. The Sunken Garden is surrounded by a densely planted wall; a single stabile will be placed against it, offering yet another distinct background to experience Calder’s work. The Sunken Garden’s wall forms the geometry of the Curved Gallery, providing a fully internalized space with maximum control over light conditions for displaying sensitive works.

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541_CI_2305_126_OPG_concrete-beam

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541_CI_2305_027_Sunken-Garden

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541_CO_240603_006_Progress

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541_CO_250117_038_Site Progress

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541_CO_250616_006_Site Progress

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541_CO_250620_041_Site Progress

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541_CI_2206_093_curve

541_CO_250501_123_Site Progress

541_CO_250501_123_Site Progress

The Open Plan Gallery has a view into the Vestige Garden. The Vestige Garden takes cues from the city’s pre-existing urban plan before the parkway’s development. The garden’s walls feature “scratched concrete,” created by hammering the wet concrete in a process used in the Schaulager in Basel.

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541_CO_240917_008_Progress_OPG_VG

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541_CI_2309_022_Garden-view-rougher-concrete-with-aggregates

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541_SI_historical maps

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541_MO_2109_269

541_MO_2205_009_Model-History

541_MO_2205_009_Model-History

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541_MU_220422_Mockup_at_Basel_Zoo_058

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541_MU_2305_030_Madison_plus_HS_Mockup

541_MU_2305_004_Madison_plus_HS_Mockup_1146

541_CO_240520_120_Cuboid Wall Pour 2

541_CO_240520_120_Cuboid Wall Pour 2

541_CO_240829_008_VG_North Wall Pour 1

541_CO_240829_008_VG_North Wall Pour 1

541_CO_240913_052_VG_North Wall Pour 5

541_CO_240913_052_VG_North Wall Pour 5

541_CO_250724_162_Site Progress

541_CO_250724_162_Site Progress

A Quasi Gallery provides a cave-like, covered outdoor space that mediates between the highly controlled gallery spaces on the interior and the exposed garden spaces outside.

541_CI_2305_123_Quasi

541_CI_2305_123_Quasi

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530_CO_250506_017_Site Progress

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541_CO_241029_048_Site Progress

To determine optimal artwork placement, we made a detailed working model for the Calder Foundation, allowing them to experiment with various configurations and sightlines throughout the complex spatial sequence before installation.

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541_MO_250304_021_Model-for-Curation

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541_CO_processed-C5D4F911-A315-4E5D-9A0F-FEC3BBCA291D

541_CO_DJI_0398

541_CO_DJI_0398

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541_CO_250813_002_Artwork-Install-SONY-Photos

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541_CO_250826_DSC04357

On November 15th, 2022, local Philadelphia officials, press and members of our design team gathered on the 1.8-acre Calder Gardens site for its ceremonial groundbreaking.

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541_CO_2307_01-Excavation_Aerial

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541_CO_2309_03_Mud_Slab_Aerial

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541_EV_2211_041_Groundbreaking_Ceremony

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541_EV_2211_001_Groundbreaking_Ceremony

Drawings

541_DR_250903_014_Site-Plan

541_DR_250903_014_Site-Plan

541_DR_250903_001_Ground-Floor-Plan

541_DR_250903_001_Ground-Floor-Plan

541_DR_250903_003_Gallery-Floor-Plan

541_DR_250903_003_Gallery-Floor-Plan

541_DR_250903_004_Section-1

541_DR_250903_004_Section-1

541_DR_250903_005_Section-2

541_DR_250903_005_Section-2

541_DR_250903_006_Section-3

541_DR_250903_006_Section-3

541_DR_250903_007_Section-4

541_DR_250903_007_Section-4

541_DR_250903_008_Section-5

541_DR_250903_008_Section-5

541_DR_250903_010_Section-7

541_DR_250903_010_Section-7

541_DR_250903_011_West-Elevation

541_DR_250903_011_West-Elevation

541_DR_250903_013_South-Elevation

541_DR_250903_013_South-Elevation

Team

Facts

Client
Private
Planning
Design Consultant: Herzog & de Meuron Basel Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
Executive Architect: Ballinger, PA, USA
Specialist / Consulting
Structural engineer: Ballinger, PA, USA
MEPF / AV / IT: Altieri Sebor Wieber, LLC, CT, USA
Landscape : Richard Herbert, NY, USA
Lighting: Flux Studio Ltd, MD, USA
civil / geotech: Pennoni, PA, USA
Concrete : Reginald Hough Associates, NY, USA
Waterproofing & Roofing: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Acoustics: Metropolitan Acoustics, PA, USA
Security: Cerami Associates, DC, USA
Signage: Karlssonwilker Inc., NY, USA
Vertical transportation: VDA, NJ, USA
Code: Jenson Hughes, MD, USA
Sustainability: Re:Vision Architecture, PA, USA
Specifications: Conspectus, MD, USA
Digital Rendering: Xaos GbmH, Basel, Switzerland
Digital Rendering: Aron Lorincz Ateliers, Budapest, Hungary
Digital Rendering: Bloomimages, New York, Inc
Sustainability: Re:Vision, PA, USA
Food Service: Corsi Associates
Contractors
General Contractor: LF Driscoll Company, PA, USA
Concrete : Madison Concrete Construction, PA, USA
Architectural woodwork: Hagen Construction Inc, PA, USA
Metal wall systems: Bamco Inc, Architectural Wall Systems, NJ, USA
Glazing system: National, Glass & Metal, Co., PA, USA
Landscape: Mayfield Gardens, Inc. PA, USA
Mechanical: Wm. J. Donovan Co. PA, USA
Electrical: Armour & Sons Electric, PA, USA
Special Collaborators
Landscape Designer: Piet Oudolf, Hummelo, NL
Structure Consultant: Guy Nordenson and Associates, NY, USA
Concrete Consultant: Huber Straub AG, Basel, Switzerland
Concrete Restauration: Strotmann und Partner, Siegburg, Germany
Building Data
Site Area: 69'325 sqft, 6'440 sqm
Gross floor area (GFA): 18'207 sqft, 1'691 sqm
GFA above ground: 4'962 sqft, 460 sqm
GFA below ground: 13'245 sqft, 1'230 sqm
Net floor area: 13'281 sqft, 1'233 sqm
Number of levels: 2
Footprint: 7'000 sqft, 650 sqm
Length: 190 ft, 57 m
Width: 36 ft, 10 m
Height: 17 ft, 5 m
Gross volume (GV): 512'400 cbft, 14'509 cbm
Facade surface: 25'960 sqft, 2'411 sqm

Location

Preparing print view