Blanton Museum’s new grounds merge art, nature, and community
Snøhetta’s redesign of The Blanton Museum of Art’s grounds at The University of Texas at Austin has transformed the museum campus into a cohesive, welcoming public space. Spanning over 200,000 square feet, the project has united two museum buildings and the iconic “Austin” by Ellsworth Kelly with a landscape vision that seamlessly integrates art, nature, and architecture. Central to this transformation is a design that prioritizes environmental sensitivity, offering a rich experience for visitors through lush plantings and well-crafted geometries that redefine entry points and gathering spaces.
The landscape for the Blanton Museum campus was carefully designed to thrive within Austin’s climate, incorporating over 25,000 new plants. Snøhetta selected species for their resilience and ability to create an inviting, low-maintenance environment that complements the Texan landscape. Key elements of the redesign include thoughtful arrangements of vegetation to maintain a balance between shade and sun, using character-defining oak trees and multi-stem crape myrtles that enhance the visual appeal of the museum’s entrance plaza. The Faulkner Garden, in particular, showcases a diverse variety of plants suited to both sun and shade, highlighting the design’s adaptability to the local climate while creating a visually dynamic space.
As a testament to The Blanton Museum’s commitment to promoting underrepresented voices in art, the redesign features a significant public mural by Cuban-American abstract artist Carmen Herrera. This mural, Herrera’s first large-scale public work, spans the loggia wall of the Michener Gallery Building, anchoring the museum’s mission with vibrant colors and geometric shapes that enhance the architectural flow. Snøhetta’s landscape design complements Herrera’s mural, integrating harmonious colors and textures across the grounds, alongside a sound garden gallery dedicated to works that engage the senses through auditory art.
A central component of the new campus is the Moody Patio, which serves as a versatile performance space with dual stages, surrounded by fresh landscaping and a lush lawn. Designed to host community gatherings and artistic programming, the Moody Patio reflects the museum’s goal to be a central cultural hub. It provides a setting for art, music, and performances, promoting a sense of community while celebrating Austin’s lively arts scene.
At the heart of Snøhetta’s vision for the Blanton Museum grounds is the goal of creating a unified civic space that bridges the nearby Texas Capitol Complex with the university’s historical campus. This integration symbolizes the museum’s role in connecting Austin’s cultural fabric, fostering a welcoming atmosphere where art and community converge. Rising above the museum grounds, a canopy of sculptural petals, each reaching 30 feet in diameter, provides a shaded microclimate.
These petal structures, standing 40 feet tall, help mitigate the effects of Austin’s hot climate by casting dappled light across the landscape. The petal sculptures are also equipped with a drainage system that channels rainwater for passive irrigation, demonstrating a sustainable approach to landscape architecture. Inspired by the loggia’s arched vaults, these petals align with views of both Ellsworth Kelly’s “Austin” and the Capitol, enhancing the visual experience for museum visitors.
In a landscape reshaped for both functionality and beauty, Snøhetta has expanded The Blanton Museum’s reach beyond its physical walls, establishing a vibrant public destination that embodies the essence of art, sustainability, and community. Through this innovative design, the Blanton Museum of Art not only becomes a place for reflection and enjoyment but also strengthens its role as a gateway between Austin’s civic and cultural life, bridging the past and future with a landscape that respects and adapts to its natural environment.
