The Princeton University Art Museum has survived a scandal surrounding its lead architect, David Adjaye, by delivering a mesmerizing art experience. The museum's new building, designed by Cooper Robertson after Adjaye stepped back due to allegations of sexual assault and harassment, is a masterpiece that rivals some of the finest art museums in the world.
As one approaches the complex, the rugged concrete facades seem to soften at ground level, with terraces and ramps leading visitors into the museum on all four sides. The principal entrance, beneath a low overhang, opens into a dramatic four-storey space featuring a colossal mosaic figure by Nick Cave that serves as a welcoming gesture.
The grand hall is a triple-height space with hefty concrete buttresses supporting two-metre-deep wooden beams framing skylights above. Corner glazing provides tempting views of the ceramics collection upstairs, while sliding oak panels can close the windows off for events. The space has echoes of Louis Kahn's Yale Center for British Art but is "beefed up" to create a unique and impressive atmosphere.
Each of the 32 galleries has a different hue, ranging from pale greens to deep blues, with some walls upholstered in richly patterned fabrics echoing stately drawing rooms. The display cases designed by Goppion allow dense groupings of objects to sing, including netsuke sculptures and snuff bottles.
The building's design is not just aesthetically pleasing but also reflects the university's exacting standards. Marc McQuade, former associate principal at Adjaye Associates, notes that endless prototyping and material testing contributed to the impressive quality of construction. The contractor, LF Driscoll, precision-made the project a testament to their skill.
The museum's strategy is to encourage visitors to "get productively lost," with accidental encounters on their way from A to B. Temporary exhibitions and the restaurant are placed as far from the front door as possible to force people to encounter different things on the way. The public areas will be open until 10:45 pm every night, and there are study rooms and endless seating nooks built into the walls both inside and out.
While David Adjaye's institutional work has often been disappointing, particularly at scale, the Princeton museum is a triumph that shows what can be achieved with collaboration, careful planning, and high-quality construction.
As one approaches the complex, the rugged concrete facades seem to soften at ground level, with terraces and ramps leading visitors into the museum on all four sides. The principal entrance, beneath a low overhang, opens into a dramatic four-storey space featuring a colossal mosaic figure by Nick Cave that serves as a welcoming gesture.
The grand hall is a triple-height space with hefty concrete buttresses supporting two-metre-deep wooden beams framing skylights above. Corner glazing provides tempting views of the ceramics collection upstairs, while sliding oak panels can close the windows off for events. The space has echoes of Louis Kahn's Yale Center for British Art but is "beefed up" to create a unique and impressive atmosphere.
Each of the 32 galleries has a different hue, ranging from pale greens to deep blues, with some walls upholstered in richly patterned fabrics echoing stately drawing rooms. The display cases designed by Goppion allow dense groupings of objects to sing, including netsuke sculptures and snuff bottles.
The building's design is not just aesthetically pleasing but also reflects the university's exacting standards. Marc McQuade, former associate principal at Adjaye Associates, notes that endless prototyping and material testing contributed to the impressive quality of construction. The contractor, LF Driscoll, precision-made the project a testament to their skill.
The museum's strategy is to encourage visitors to "get productively lost," with accidental encounters on their way from A to B. Temporary exhibitions and the restaurant are placed as far from the front door as possible to force people to encounter different things on the way. The public areas will be open until 10:45 pm every night, and there are study rooms and endless seating nooks built into the walls both inside and out.
While David Adjaye's institutional work has often been disappointing, particularly at scale, the Princeton museum is a triumph that shows what can be achieved with collaboration, careful planning, and high-quality construction.
! The design is insane - those concrete facades giving way to these gorgeous terraces? 
I mean, the mosaic by Nick Cave at the entrance is like nothin' I've ever seen before 
. And the interior? So dramatic and impressive, with those wooden beams and skylights 
. I can totally see why they call it a masterpiece 
.
! The display cases are so cool too, all about showin' off those netsuke sculptures and snuff bottles 
. I'm all for gettin' productively lost in there... might just find myself spendin' an entire day wanderin' around 
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. Like, what really went down there? Was it a cover-up? Or was he just trying to save face? And then they bring in Cooper Robertson and it's like, boom! A masterpiece 
. The way they designed the building is so cool, but what if it's all part of some bigger plan? Maybe this is just a test run for something even bigger 
. I'm not saying I don't like the museum, but... there's just too much going on here that doesn't add up 
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It's literally stunning!! The building itself is super modern & sleek, but then it gets all cozy at ground level with these nice terraces & ramps... 
and the interior? Wow, it's like a work of art in itself! Those huge skylights are insane 
and the mosaic figure by Nick Cave is so cool 
. I'm loving how each gallery has its own unique color scheme too - it's like walking into different rooms 
. And can we talk about the construction quality? Apparently, they did endless prototyping & testing to get it just right... impressive! 
. Only downside: David Adjaye's name is still kinda tainted from the scandal 
, but it's clear that Princeton did their research & chose an amazing architect in Cooper Robertson 
.
But seriously, Cooper Robertson's design is pure genius! The way it flows from rough concrete to these soft, inviting spaces... it's like a breath of fresh air 
. Plus, can we talk about those display cases? 
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! I love how the architects have created this whole flow of spaces that make you want to explore, get lost even 
. And I love how they've mixed materials and colors to create this unique atmosphere. It's definitely worth a visit! 
. And the fact that they're open until 10:45 pm every night? Perfect for those late-night art lovers 
. I mean, who comes up with a design that's basically a triple-height space with chunky concrete and wooden beams? 
Sounds like a total mishmash of styles, but somehow it works. It's almost as if they took all these different influences (Louis Kahn, anyone?) and mashed them together into this weirdly wonderful beast 
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. And the display cases? Super smart design, using all those Goppion panels to show off those tiny netsuke sculptures and snuff bottles 
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. But hey, who am I to judge? The museum's definitely a masterpiece now 
what i love most though is that strategy of "getting productively lost" - i mean who doesn't love getting lost in a new place? 
the fact that the public areas stay open till 10:45 pm every night is just genius too 
and that colossal mosaic figure by nick cave at the entrance gives me all the feels 
. i'm also loving the fact that they made sure to include plenty of quiet spots for students to study (i mean who doesn't need a quiet spot to escape from all the drama 
. and btw i'm still on team adjaye after this 
! I mean, the design is just wow – it's like walking into a dream world. The way they've used different colors in each gallery is genius, and those display cases? Whoa, they're like little worlds for the objects inside 
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The attention to detail is insane - 32 galleries, each with its own unique color scheme? Mind blown! 
But what really gets me is the visitor strategy - gettin' people lost in the museum? Genius! 
. Can't wait to check it out! 
. It's not just pretty to look at, but also makes you feel welcome and inspired.
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about the new Princeton University Art Museum! The design by Cooper Robertson is, like, WOW 
, and the display cases are designed by Goppion? Genius 
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! And I love the strategy of encouraging visitors to get productively lost 
, it's like a treasure hunt 
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