Ringling Museum of Art

The Asian Art Study Center: A Jewel in the Ring

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is the legacy of circus entrepreneur and art collector John Ringling and his wife, Mable. The Museum—which features both a permanent collection and temporary exhibition galleries—sits on a historic sixty-six acre estate that also includes the Venetian-Gothic Cà d'Zan mansion, the winter-residence of John and Mable Ringling, the Tibbals Learning Center, the John M. McKay Visitors Pavilion (housing the Historic Asolo Theater), the Johnson/Blalock Education/Conservation Building and The Ulla R. and Arthur F. Searing Wing.

Believed to be originally envisioned as one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world, the Museum was ahead of its time in assembling a significant collection of Asian Art. Now governed by Florida State University, the Museum establishes the Ringling Estate as one of the largest museum-university complexes in the United States.

  • Client: Florida State University on behalf of the Ringling Museum of Art

    Location: Sarasota, FL

    Year: 2015

    Status: Built

  • Honorable Mention in Architectural Design | Architecture Masterprize | 2018

    Honor Award | AIA New England | 2017

    Honor Award for Design Excellence | Boston Society of Architects | 2016

    Merit Award for Innovation in Materials | AIA Gulf Coast | 2016

  • Gulling, Dana K. “Exterior Ceramic Tile Rainscreen: The Asian Art Study Center at the Ringling Museum of Art.” Manufacturing Architecture. London: Laurence King Publishing, 2018.

    "The Center for Asian Art at the Ringling Museum of Art." Domes, no. 2 (2016): 92-101.

    Berg, Nate, and Machado, Rodolfo. "Center for Asian Art John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art." Architect, (2016): 104-111.

    "Centro de Arte Asiatico del Museo de Arte Ringling." PLOT 34, (2016): 104-113.

    "The Asian Art Study Centre at the Ringling Museum of Art." Architecture and Detail, no. 5 (2016): 685-689.

    "Center for Asian Art, Ringling Museum of Art." Architecture and Culture 422, (2016): 96-103.

    Andersson, Hedvig. "Ett Smycke Ikeramik." Lera 4, (2016): 32-39.

    Stoughton, John. "Machado Silvetti's Modern Addition to Historically Significant Ringling Estate." Architect's Newspaper. February 12, 2016. Archpaper.com.

 
 

Extension of Museum Complex

The Asian Art Study Center is an addition and 'gut renovation' to the West Wing galleries on the southwest corner of the Museum complex. The renovation converts approximately 18,000 square-feet of existing gallery space from temporary exhibition space to permanent galleries for the museum's growing Asian collection.

 

Interior Program

A 7,500 square-foot addition houses new gallery space and a multi-purpose lecture hall. The Asian Art Study Center also includes innovative study/storage space and seminar rooms for scholars, researchers and students.

 

Façade Composition

The addition's façade is composed of deep-green, glazed terra cotta tiles that address the client's requirement of a new monumental entrance. The façade relates to the natural environment of the Museum's extensive landscape, and its color and chiseled profile are reminiscent of the Cà d'Zan mansion's ceramic detailing. Machado Silvetti collaborated closely with Boston Valley Terra Cotta to develop the color, form and installation technique for the panels. The over 3,000 tiles provide a high performance, visually striking building envelope that redefines the functionality of the surrounding site by activating the existing courtyard and by addressing circulation and infrastructure needs of the site.

 
 

“We wanted this building to be something unique in the world and a work of art. We are a collection of art objects, and our buildings should reflect that.”

— Dr. Stephen High, Ringling Museum of Art's Executive Director

 

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