As the year starts, Larry’s List, the world’s leading art collector database, names the top 10 most exciting buildings of private art museums.
Private collectors around the world have teamed up with famous architects such as Herzog & de Meuron, Frank Gehry or Steven Holl to build museums that are today recognized as architectural landmarks.
The top 10 list features museums from five different continents. Locations range from global hubs to remote areas in Tasmania and mountains in China. Only three out of ten museums are based in Europe.
Larry’s List calculates that 72% of all existing private exhibition spaces were built after 2000. Unsurprisingly, all of the museums in the top 10 list were built after this date
Sammlung Boros, Berlin, Germany
Collector: Christian & Karen Boros
Architect: Jens Casper
In 2003 Christian Boros purchased a bunker, which was build in 1941. Architect Jens Casper was commissioned to convert the bunker into an exhibition space. On the rooftop of the bunker, the collectors couple Christian and Karen Boros built a private penthouse.
Museum Brandhorst, Munich, Germany
Collector: Udo Brandhorst
Architect: Sauerbruch Hutton
The Museum Brandhorst was designed by Sauerbruch Hutton and stores the collection of Udo Brandhorst, who is the worlds biggest Cy Twombly collector. It’s multi-colored facade is composed out of 36,000 vertical ceramic shutters in 23 different colors. The museum was built in 2009.
Schaulager Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Collector: Maja Oeri and Hands Bodenmann
Architect: Herzog & de Meuron
The Schaulager Basel was planned by the renowned team of Herzog & de Meuron. It is neither a museum nor a traditional warehouse since it is only aimed at a scientific audience with research focus. Occasionally the Schaulager opens it’s doors to the public for special events and exhibitions
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Betonville, United States
Collector: Alice Walton
Architects: Safdie Architects
Architect Moshe Safdie built the Crystal Bridges Museum centred on a glass-and-wood design. The complex includes different exhibition pavilions, which confine two big ponds. To explore the areal visitors are transported in solar-powered shuttles.
Mueso Soumaya, Mexico City, Mexico
Collector: Carlos Slim Helu
Architect: FR-EE Fernando Romero Enterproce
Carlos Slim Helus’ Museo Soumaya in Mexico City was built in 2011 by his son in law, Fernando Romero, and holds Helus’ private collection, which includes more than 70,000 pieces of art, It’s façade is made of 16,000 hexagonal aluminium plates and makes a phenomenal, lasting impression.
Inhotim Collection, Brumadinho, Brazil
Collector: Bernardo Paz
Architect: Ruberto Burle Marx (landscape artist)
In the 1980’s Bernardo Paz began to build a botanical garden with different pavilions to showcase his art collection to the public. Today the garden, which was designed by landscape artist Ruberto Burle Marx, has an enormous size of 5,000 acres.
Sifang Art Museum, Nanjing, China
Collector: Lu Xun
Architect: Steven Toll
The Sifang Art Museum hosts the private collection of Lu Xun. The galleries, located in illuminated glass tunnels and balanced high above the ground, were designed by architect Steven Holl. The museum is located in the beautiful Laoshan National Forest Park in Nanjing.
SSM /Kanno Museum of Art, Miyagi, Japan
Collector: Kiyo Kanno
Architect: Atelier Hitoshi Abe
The Kanno Museum was designed to host only eight sculptures from the private collection of Kiyo Kanno. Architect Hitoshi Abe faced the whole exterior with rust-coloured copper plates, which make the museum a sculpture itself.
Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Australia
Collector: David Walsh
Architect: Fender Katsalidis Architects
After a $75 million renovation by Fender Katsalidis Architects the Museum of Old and New Art, which is largely based underground, opened its doors again in 2011. To access the museum located on the island of Tasmania most visitors take a ferry.
Lyon Housemuseum, Melbourne, Australia
Collector: Corbett and Yueji Lyon
Architect: Lyons Architecture
The Housemuseum was conceptualized by collector Corbett Lyon himself to explore the relation between art and living. It houses both the residence of the Lyons family and an exhibition space to present their private collection of contemporary Australian art.
