The glass collection, the historic progression of technique and styles that made Toledo the Glass City encourages all to re-imagine the medium of glass, its confidence and expression – something that SANAA’s Toledo Museum of Art’s Glass Pavilion exemplifies exceptionally well.
The ductility and strength of glass becomes apparent in these curves and intersections where doors and thresholds are set into formed edges. The simple act of allowing two curved walls to intersect at an acute angle results in operable doors that cross between both spaces where fine detailing and attention paid to the natural joint and end conditions and where various materials and spaces meet is remarkable. Joints within the polished concrete floor align with the vertical joints of the interior glass partitions which then align with the edges of the white ceiling. Not that every joint in the glass walls are celebrated in this manner – instead there is a subtle rhythmic beauty to the sparse sectioning of the floor and ceiling which creates large fields interrupted or outlined by intentionally placed minimal steel diffuser grills in the floors. Since the plate glass walls are set in channels at the floor and ceiling there are distinct, crisp, fine lines drawn on the main horizon- tal planes, outlining and demarcating spaces and paths. Being able to see the edges of adjacent spaces combined with the simple layout of the plan, and coupled with signage in the form of a general map laid into the floor and the overall diaphanous nature of the Pavilion, first time visitors are easily capable of navigating the various gallery and exhibit spaces as well as the hotshop; a public demonstration room where local artisans swing hot glass on the end of their blow tubes, making the myriad shapes and colours found in the collec- tion. Outside gardens punctuate the plan of the building with openings in the roof that allow natural light to spill into the exhibit spaces. Secure galleries with solid walls create visual termini to specific views; these solid spaces accentuate the baubles of the more public exhibit areas and create a fine counterpoint to emphasize the nature of the building’s main material, plate glass. ~
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On Site review 20: archives and museums
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