High Museum of Art Atlanta

Richard Meier – 1280 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta USA, 1983

The building consists of four quadrants with one hollowed out, to distinguish it from the other three; the missing quadrant becomes a monumental atrium, the hall and ceremonial center of the museum.
The extended ramp is a symbolic gesture that extends towards the street and the city and a foil for the internal ramp that is the main formal and circulatory element of the building. At the end of the ramp is the main entrance and reception area, from which one passes into the four-story atrium.
The light-filled atrium space is inspired by and commented on the central space of the Guggenheim Museum. As in the Guggenheim, the ramp system mediates between the central space and the art itself. In the Guggenheim, however, the ramp also functions as a gallery; in Atlanta, the separation of circulation and gallery space allows the central space to govern the movement system. This separation also allows the atrium walls to have windows, which admit natural light and provide framed views of the city. The galleries are organized to offer multiple views, as well as intimate and large-scale viewing to meet the diverse needs of the collection.
Light, whether direct or filtered, is a constant concern throughout; aside from its functional aspect, light is a symbol of the museum's role as a place of aesthetic enlightenment and enlightened cultural values. The primary intention of the architecture is to encourage the discovery of these values ​​and foster a contemplative appreciation of the museum's collection through spatial experience.
Source: www.richardmeier.com