Museums and Libraries: The Latest Architecture and News

The Nanjing Sifang Art Museum designed by Steven Holl Architects is nearly complete, and on schedule to open its doors to the public in a few short months. Iwan Baan shows on his website a great photo set of the new museum which can be viewed here.

Mecanoo has won the international competition to design the new campus of the National University of Science and Technology (MISiS), one of the leading technical universities of Russia. The 100-acre campus will be located in a new district of Moscow, where 300,000 new residents are expected over the next 20 years.

The campus includes housing for 10,000 students and 3,000 academics, and is home to seven departments, several research institutes, a library, business center, hotel, sports park, cinema, cafes and shops. As a condition of the project’s financing by President Medvedev, construction must begin by year’s end. More images and architect’s description after the break.

Yesterday, we shared the news of the Folk Art Museum’s announcement to sell its 53rd Street building to the MoMA due to financial troubles. As we reported, with the MoMA looking to expand its gallery square footage, speculation is growing as to whether the Folk Art museum will be preserved. The situation is a little complicated as the Folk Art building stands between the existing MoMA and an empty lot sold to the developer Hines which is where Jean Nouvel’s West 53rd tower will stand in the future. Some feel the MoMA will demolish the Folk Art to utilize the empty lot to its fullest potential. Yet, the MoMA has said the Folk Art museum will be used as gallery space.

More than a year ago we published the Museum of Art and Archaeology of the Côa Valley in Portugal. Now, photographer Nelson Garrido shared with us some of his photos for the museum. More images after the break.

Richard Meier & Partners is pleased to announce the anticipated reopening of the Richard Meier Model Museum in Long Island City on Friday, May 13, 2011. Offering a rare glimpse into the process behind his distinguished 40-year career as an architect, Mr. Meier is once again unveiling his vast breadth of works to the public for its fifth consecutive season.

Further information after the break.