Goals and Objectives

In the spring of 1997, the Museum held a series of three public workshops. What resulted from these meetings are guidelines the Museum followed in developing the goals and objectives, program and design requirements for the new de Young Museum.

What the public wants	What the new design provides
A safe building	State-of-the-art seismic engineering to ensure safety of visitors and collections
A park-friendly building (views to the outside, natural light/windows)	Interior courtyards, vistas out into Park, pathways through building
Improved access and multiple entrances to the Museum	Four entrances, improved ADA access, one third of museum free to the public, a school bus drop-off zone
A building which is culturally sensitive and can accommodate growing and diverse collections	Twice the exhibit space in a reduced footprint, an innovative non-hierarchical layout which allows for cohesive and integrative presentations of diverse collections
An economically viable museum	A continuation of the de Young's tradition of strong temporary exhibitions, expanded cafe and store
Broader educational services	The Education Tower will double educational programming, the children's art gallery will be free, the teachers' resource center, artists studio and library will expand and be open to the public
Expanded amenities (a roof top restaurant, additional seating, more bathrooms)	Three restaurants, more seating inside and around the Museum, enhanced visitor amenities, an orientation gallery, panoramic views from the Education Tower
A contemplative museum environment	Spaces designed around the collections and visitors, an idyllic integration of Park and Museum
A great building to be proud of	A landmark American Art Museum: forward-thinking, beautiful, and visitor-friendly
Some architectural echoes of the old de Young	A new publicly accessible tower, reinstallation of the sphinxes, the original palm trees and the Pool of Enchantment

DESIGN ASPECTS

Museum

The new de Young museum, designed by acclaimed Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, creates an inviting atmosphere to view art in a park setting.

Exhibition Preparation and Support

The museum’s exhibition staff creates the installation for each exhibit. Working with the curatorial staff, they prepare the artwork for exhibition and design interiors to complement the art.

Interstitial Space & Connecting Areas

Glass-enclosed interstitial spaces connect the galleries and offer spectacular views of the park and gardens.

20^th Century American Art

The double-height 20^th Century American Art galleries are spacious and light to accommodate the large size of many modern works of art. One of the highlights of the collection is the recent acquisition Zig V by sculptor David Smith.

Textile Art Gallery

The Textile Art Gallery, home to one of the most important collections of Middle Eastern textiles in the world, provides maximum control over light and environment to protect these sensitive works of art. The gallery is complemented by the Textiles Study Center, an important resource for students and scholars.

Education Tower

The Education Tower will house public spaces for the Museum’s acclaimed education programs, as well as a public reading room and an observation deck that will boast breathtaking views of Golden Gate Park and the entire city of San Francisco.

LANDSCAPING

Site Plans

Sylvan Edge

The sylvan edge hugs the perimeter of the museum and adds additional square feet of wooded space to the park.

Eucalyptus Court

The Eucalyptus Court acts like a finger of the park protruding into the museum. Eucalyptus trees are a particularly appropriate choice, as they were part of the original landscaping of the park.

Fern Court

The Fern Court will be a quiet haven between the galleries. Due to the topography of the site, the garden will dip down to the lower level, allowing natural light to filter into the undergrounds areas.