Title: Asheville Recycled Art Museum
Location of Proejct: Asheville, NC
Project Completion Date: May 27, 2020
Firm Name:

Short Description: Asheville’s Recycled Art Museum is a building that seems to grow out of the natural landscape and open towards North. Located next to The French Broad River, the museum has a unique form of arrival that addresses sustainability issues. With interlacing pedestrian and bike paths, the users have the opportunity to experience the landscape and river whilst appreciating the outdoor art installations made out of recycled materials. The pedestrian path itself is then translated to the building’s monumental green roof.

Architect's Statement: Asheville’s Recycled Art Museum is located on a natural environment next to the city’s major water body, The French Broad River. The building’s isolation from the urban surroundings gives opportunity for a unique form of arrival and a greater integration with the natural landscape. With the purpose of addressing sustainability issues, the project encourages pedestrian, bike and kayak transportation methods for arrival since it is directly connected to a transportation hub.

Buses coming from the downtown and art district stop at the hub where users can rent bikes and kayaks to get to the Art Museum, or simply walk through the engaging pedestrian path that leads to it as well. A big part of the museum experience involves the wondering path with big outdoor art installations at every corner by artists who work with recycled materials. The path’s changes in elevation, curves and relationship with ground is then translated to the extensive green roof that makes up the Asheville’s Recycled Art Museum. The project is also concerned with water treatment by incorporating bioswales and rainwater harvesting features for gray water usage in the building.

With the sloping roofscape of grass and vegetation, the building is a visual landmark that lifts up the ground and opens towards North. The building seems to grow out of the landscape by translating the activity from the paths and incorporating it as part of the roof. The building receives all the diffused northern light and has the main openings for views towards the river and the site’s natural surroundings to the East. The visitors appreciate the artwork from before they arrive to the museum as preparation for the interior galleries that display recycled sculpture, paintings and installations.