flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Sanaa-designed cultural center opens at Connecticut’s Grace Farms

Cultural Facilities

Sanaa-designed cultural center opens at Connecticut’s Grace Farms

The 83,000-sf The River is five pavillions with space for a sanctuary, library, and gym.


By Mike Chamernik, Associate Editor | October 9, 2015
Sanaa-designed cultural center opens at Connecticut’s Grace Farms

The River, designed by Sanaa, lets guests see the surrounding nature reserve. Photos courtesy Grace Farms (via Dezeen)

Grace Farms, a nature reserve in New Canaan, Conn., opened a new cultural center on Friday.

Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of the firm Sanaa designed the winding 83,000-sf structure. The River is situated on a hillside in the 80-acre reserve, and it consists of five pavilions linked by a curved roof, according to Dezeen.

The pavilions contain a sanctuary, library, gym, and other attractions. The River has a wood roof with aluminum panels, and it is filled with glass walls that provide views of the nature expanse.

The sanctuary will be used by the Grace Community Church and other groups, but it is open to the public. Along with The River, Grace Farms has woods, wetlands, trails, and a pond. A barn on the property was renovated into a open-air garden and welcome center.

The Guardian has the story of how the $83 million center came to be.

 

Related Stories

Cultural Facilities | Mar 25, 2019

The new Olympic House in Switzerland will reflect the international governing body’s values

The building, nestled in a large park, is striving to meet three different sustainability standards.

Libraries | Feb 10, 2019

New library branch in San Diego opens with its community’s learning and working traits in mind

It features larger gathering spaces and more technology than its predecessor.

Libraries | Jan 18, 2019

Chicago’s newest library branch preserves the old and ushers in the new

Its exterior design reflects the neighborhood’s industrial history, while its interior fosters community and shared learning.

Cultural Facilities | Oct 24, 2018

San Antonio approves redevelopment of Alamo Plaza

The San Antonio City Council voted 9-2 in favor of the makeover.

Cultural Facilities | Aug 10, 2018

Moviegoers are looking for an ‘intimate experience’

Comfort and service are keys to attracting repeat customers, says an expert whose firm specializes in cinema design.

Cultural Facilities | Jun 11, 2018

Risorgimento, Buffalo style

Further evidence of the positive impact of the cultural centers on neighborhood development and economic growth can be found in Buffalo, N.Y., where plans for the Italian Cultural Center are moving forward.

Cultural Facilities | Jun 11, 2018

Cultural centers: Community-based venues can be catalysts for downtown renewal

New cultural centers have sparked development in the form of new offices, restaurants, retail, hotels, business incubators, apartments, and arenas.

Cultural Facilities | Jun 2, 2018

Topping Off: Pikes Peak is getting a new Summit Complex

The 26,000-sf facility will be green, resilient, and emphasize the view rather than the architecture.

Libraries | Jun 1, 2018

New library offers a one-stop shop for what society is craving: hands-on learning

Beyond lending books and DVDs, the Elkridge (Md.) branch library loans household tools like ladders, wheelbarrows, and sewing machines.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category



Museums

UT Dallas opens Morphosis-designed Crow Museum of Asian Art

In Richardson, Tex., the University of Texas at Dallas has opened a second location for the Crow Museum of Asian Art—the first of multiple buildings that will be part of a 12-acre cultural district. When completed, the arts and performance complex, called the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum, will include two museums, a performance hall and music building, a grand plaza, and a dedicated parking structure on the Richardson campus.


halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021