MORE ABOUT: Cy Twombly Pavilion – Houston, Texas

MORE ABOUT:
Cy Twombly Pavilion, the Menil Collection
1519 Branard St
Houston, TX

Built: 1995
Architects: Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Structural Engineer: Ove Arup & Partners, Haynes Whaley Associates Inc.

The Cy Twombly Pavilion is an adjunct to the Menil Collection and houses a permanent collection of paintings, sculptures, and drawings by Cy Twombly.

The outside of the building is composed of concrete panels which contrast the effect of the floating roof.
Here is a plan of the ground floor and building sections showing the roof support system.

(Source 1)

The most challenging aspect of the building is the roof which must diffuse harsh sunlight to bring in the right amount of light. The roof structure is composed of 4 layers:
-diffusing louvers
-glass envelopes
-adjustable, motorized louvers
-cloth/translucent ceiling
(web article on the “floating roof”)

(source 1)

The last layer, the cloth ceiling conceals the roof details from the inside and also makes it possible to add additional, artificial light through holes in the cloth.

(Read more about the Cy Twombly Gallery)

Case Study by: Kaylyn Fenner
ARE 320K, Fall 2010

Other sources (UT Library):
Article:
“Art House.” Architectural Record. May 1995 v.183: 80-83.

Article:
“Softly Piano.” Texas Architect. Jul.-Aug. 1995 v.45: 62.