For a new museum interpreting the art, history and culture of its namesake valley, MGA&D’s architecture and interiors amplify the human stories being told. Visitors enter through a grand hall topped by a cupola, ceremonial forms reminiscent of Virginia’s public buildings. And they experience historic artifacts in galleries with wooden ceilings typical of vernacular domestic architecture.
The Museum’s trustees and director requested that the new building feel “Virginian” in the context of the adjacent Glen Burnie historic house and gardens. Without being imitative, the Museum’s character interprets traditional Georgian architecture through the symmetrical entrance facade, roof forms, gridded windows, and red brick materials with white wood trim. At the smallest scale of visitor experience, our signage and print graphics use imagery from the Valley’s landscape and the Museum’s decorative arts collection.
We started the project with a master plan to site the new Museum within a large parcel of land near the historic Glen Burnie Estate and Gardens, a complementary regional visitor attraction. The plan creates visual separation between the facilities while siting parking and service that can be shared. This not only resulted in operational efficiency but also created value by using the least amount of land.
