ACSA Steel Design Competition Entry | The new Asheville Museum of Art is located in the French Broad River Park in Asheville, North Carolina. Asheville is an up-and-coming arts and crafts center with a growing River Arts District just a few minutes away from the proposed museum. 

The museum is divided into five pavilions which house permanent and temporary collections. Its design is defined by simple geometry, minimal materials and the incorporation of natural light with the natural environment. 

The structure is composed of Y-shaped columns going around the perimeter of the building with a concrete base and steel arms supporting the roofs. This structural system allows for glass curtain walls all around the building. The glass creates a physical barrier and becomes the envelope of the building while visually eliminating the boundary between the outside and the inside. 

Light played a key role in the design. With an emphasis on natural light, the norther pavilions are glazed with frosted glass, with a small clear strip to indulge guests with view of the parks. The hallways surrounding the galleries receive natural sunlight throughout te day, allowing people to perceive the transition of the day while visiting the museum. Light was also important for the courtyard. Through an opening in the east facade, the courtyard will receive natural morning light, particularly during winter months, crating a warm and pleasurable environment. 

It was important for the museum to maintain a connection with the park. As people circulate around the building, they are able to indulge in the surrounding views. Additionally, a central courtyard was incorporated to the design, where sculptural works will be exhibited and which reconnects the building back to its natural surroundings. Surrounding the building on two sides are a series of pools used for sustainable and aesthetic purposed. On the north, the pool that is part of a Living Machine system will act as a reflecting pool. Meanwhile, the pools on the west facade will be where water is filtered as part of the Living Machine system. The pad of the north pool is also the selected area for a possible future expansion of the museum.