The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts has approved a new Concept Design for the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum. Designed by Reed Hilderbrand and Trahan Architects, the new design builds on the concept of an immersive and cohesive garden experience, heightening the connectedness to the museum's extensive collection of some of the finest trees and viewing stones from across the globe.

The museum's program will be organized around a central court to orient the visitor to a network of paths that lead to the four exhibitions, expanded classroom, and administrative services. Instead of buildings, each exhibition was conceived as separate gardens that sit within the larger surrounding landscape of the museum.

"The legacy of global cultural exchange through horticulture takes on an important meaning today in Washington," said Founding Principal of Reed Hilderbrand Douglas Reed, FASLA, RAAR in a statement. "We have sought to elevate a world-class collection, making it more accessible, where visitors can make a powerful connection between a bonsai beech tree in the Museum and its full grown expression in the National Arboretum woods."

The National Bonsai and Penjing Museum is the first project within Reed Hilderbrand’s Master Plan Update for the U.S. National Arboretum’s core, which the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts also approved during Summer 2020.  

"It’s about deferring to the power of the Bonsai and Penjing," said Trey Trahan, FAIA in a statement. "The architectural expression is subtle — composed of elemental components that respond to the unique environmental conditions of the site. We wanted the visitor to embark upon a journey that created a sense of mystery, where the boundaries between the landscape and the architecture are blurred, inviting people to reflect upon these unique cultural artifacts within a lush garden setting."