The Clark Art Institute, a prominent institution located in the Berkshires region of western Massachusetts, United States, has released images related to the plan to expand its existing structures. Founded in 1955, this institution serves as an art museum, research center, critical debate forum, and higher education center focused on visual arts.
The new section, contracted to Selldorf Architects in October 2024, aims to increase the space dedicated to the exhibition and storage of artworks. This expansion will connect the Museum Building to the Manton Research Center, both of which were previously renovated by the same architectural firm. The landscape design, developed by Reed Hilderbrand, will complement the new building, reinforcing the integration between architecture, art, and the natural environment of the Berkshires.
The Clark Art Institute possesses an extensive collection that includes European and American paintings and sculptures, as well as engravings, drawings by great masters, English silver articles, and old photographs. In addition to organizing international conferences, colloquiums, and workshops on topics relevant to visual arts, the institution houses the Clark Library, considered one of the leading art history libraries in the United States, containing nearly 300,000 volumes.
The newly designed Aso O. Tavitian Wing, signed by Selldorf Architects, will function as a permanent home for the Aso O. Tavitian Collection of European art, which was gathered during the 21st century. This new annex will add twelve galleries on a single level, with spaces designed to allow for a more intimate and detailed observation of this collection.
In terms of dimensions, the new wing will have a gross area of 1,394 m² (equivalent to 15,000 square feet), with 650 m² (7,000 square feet) designated for exhibition and 279 m² (3,000 square feet) for artwork storage. The facade of the new building will be constructed of stone, utilizing a marble pattern with multicolored veins that harmonize with neighboring buildings, such as the Manton Research Center and the main museum building. The interior will feature white oak flooring.
To ensure the entry of natural light into the galleries, a large window has been planned on the east facade of the building. Additionally, two openings on the west facade will provide visitors with framed views of Stone Hill and the museum gardens. Reed Hilderbrand's landscaping incorporates native vegetation and strengthens connections with the campus, contributing to the improvement of general accessibility and visitor movement throughout the complex.
Construction of the new building is scheduled to begin in January 2027, with an estimated completion in 2028. In parallel, other global cultural projects are underway, such as the Lusail Museum by Herzog & de Meuron in Al Maha Island, Qatar—an artificial island of 230,000 square meters off the coast of Lusail; the Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi, a project by Frank Gehry for a new performing arts center, whose work recently began and is expected to open in 2030; and The Whale by Dorte Mandrup, a scientific-cultural installation focused on marine ecosystems, under construction about 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle.
The Nereidas Homes architectural project is situated in the arid landscape of Baja California, near Todos Santos. This development occupies an area of six hundred square meters, distinguished by the presence of sculptural cacti and expansive views encompassing both the Sierra de la Laguna and the Pacific Ocean.
The design of the house is based on the idea of being fragmented into several architectural pieces. This arrangement aims to ensure privacy for each living unit while establishing an intentional and specific visual connection with the natural surroundings. This approach distributes domestic life across the entire terrain, avoiding the creation of a single closed block.
The structure is organized through private rooms and a shared common area, seeking a balance between the feeling of enclosure and openness within the lot. Individual spaces are designed to focus on carefully framed views, while collective areas extend longitudinally, utilizing the vastness of the landscape for shared use.
There are three private units spread across the terrain. Each one functions as a continuous space, where activities such as sleeping, resting, and bathing occur without internal divisions. The curved internal walls open up to three distinct windows, each framing a different section of the landscape and creating varied atmospheres within the same environment. Essential furniture, such as beds, seating, wardrobes, and bathrooms, is integrated into the architectural shell, ensuring that each function maintains its own visual focus, even while being in a unified spatial volume. Access to the roof enhances this vertical experience, strengthening the direct link between the private space, the sky, and the horizon.
The main shared area is defined by two intersecting roofs. This space houses an outdoor fireplace with a double height and a circular cascading pool, offering various settings for socializing, dining, and relaxation. Being completely open, this structure maintains a constant visual and spatial alignment with the desert. The overlapping planes create deep shadows, and the changes in height guide movement without relying on traditional partitions.
The entire building was constructed using pigmented concrete, which serves as both a structural element and a cladding. The rosy tone applied to the material lends warmth to the building, allowing it to reflect changes in luminosity throughout the day and accentuating the contrast with the surrounding vegetation, especially after rain when the landscape takes on a greener hue. Environmental systems were incorporated into the design, making the house completely autonomous (off-grid). Energy is supplied by photovoltaic solar panels, and a thermal solar heater provides hot water. Furthermore, water reuse systems reduce pressure on local resources, and all flora removed during construction was replanted on site, preserving the existing desert ecosystem.
Nereidas Homes presents a way of living in the desert that considers architecture as a built condition intended for permanence. In this sense, the residence approaches the notion of a contemporary ruin: a durable structure that supports life while allowing the climate, time, and landscape to act upon it.
The MVRDV office has been selected to develop the design for the Shift Embassy, a new cultural point of interest intended for the developing district of Waterkant, located in Rotterdam. This international competition was organized by the social enterprise Shift.
The proposal, named 'Rotterdam ROCKS!', was conceived as a fusion between architecture and landscaping. It integrates various elements, such as exhibition spaces, hotel services, educational areas, public facilities, and ecological infrastructure, all within a publicly accessible building. The central purpose is to support Shift's mission of engaging visitors in environmental and social issues.
The project is situated in Waterkant, a large urban development on the south bank of the Maas river, which plans to include 3,750 residences, as well as schools, workplaces, cultural venues, and green areas. The design of Rotterdam ROCKS! consists of seven stacked volumes reminiscent of rock formations, arranged around a network of internal and external pathways. The neighboring riverside landscape is extended vertically through landscaped terraces, viewpoints, water mirrors, and public trails, creating a fluid transition between indoor and outdoor environments.
The building's facade features porosity, incorporating niches and cavities designed to house vegetation, retain water, and serve as a habitat for urban wildlife. At the heart of the program is The Elysium, a 5,000 square meter immersive exhibition area. This section aims to explore future scenarios using art, narrative, and interactive installations, moving away from traditional exhibition formats. Furthermore, the building will feature a 200-room hotel, classrooms, conference spaces, dining areas, community gathering spots, and an observation deck.
The project utilizes recycled steel, low-carbon concrete, bio-based materials, and circular construction methods. There is also an exploration of robotic manufacturing and large-scale 3D printing technologies. The architectural team proposes documenting the construction process as a continuous experiment, allowing the building to function as a laboratory for low-carbon techniques and material innovation. Environmental systems will be visible to visitors, and a monitoring system will display real-time data on energy use, water cycles, biodiversity, vegetation, and material performance, establishing the building as a testing ground for sustainable practices. This methodology aims to allow the building to adapt as technologies, regulations, and environmental knowledge advance.
The competition for the Shift Embassy began in January 2025 as an international process divided into two phases, inviting multidisciplinary teams to present ideas that combined architecture, engineering, ecology, and cultural programming. After an initial selection of 80 proposals, five teams advanced to the final phase: Urban Ecosystem, Heatherwick Studio, Mecanoo, MVRDV, and Office for Political Innovation. In March 2026, after verification and preliminary design, Shift chose the team led by MVRDV, in collaboration with Arup, Arcadis, DGMR, Studio Bertels, and Joris Laarman Labs, as the winner. The detailed project is currently being presented before the public participation scheduled for the autumn of 2026.
