Cincinnati Art Museum
CLIENT: Cincinnati Art Museum
LOCATION: Cincinnati, OH
SCOPE: Master Planning Through Construction
STATUS: In Progress
AWARDS: Ohio Chapter of ASLA Merit Award, Cincinnati Art Museum Art Climb Master Plan 2019; Cincinnati Design Awards, Honor Award, Cincinnati Art Museum Art Climb Master Plan, 2019; Cincinnati Design Awards, Honor Award, Cincinnati Art Museum Art Climb-Built, 2020
Human Nature collaborated with Emersion Design and Strand Associates to generate a new and far-reaching vision for the Museum and its ridgetop site. The master plan proposes a new entry to the Museum property that improves access and the visitor arrival experience. In addition, a network of pedestrian walkways and site-based, art pavilions extend the mission and impact of the Museum beyond the building and into the Eden Park landscape. Inspired by the landscape paintings of Van Gogh, the proposed site will itself become a work of art that changes with the seasons and that expresses different eras in American landscape design history. In addition to the Site Master Plan, Human Nature continues to play a role in the design and implementation of several site improvement projects, including updates to the Alice Bimel Courtyard and a new entry drive, parking court, and arrival garden. The primary goal of the proposed Art Climb is to be an extension of the Cincinnati Art Museum into the landscape—an outdoor gallery for artwork in a variety of media. Additionally, it is meant to be a welcoming gesture to the residents from the adjacent neighborhoods to visit the museum. The Art Climb will consist of monumental stairs leading to a series of terraces containing artwork and custom benches for rest and relaxation. At the top of the hill, an elevated walkway will lead to an “Art Box”—a site-based art gallery.