Shelburne Museum unveils new design after dropping Adjaye Asssociates

Shelburne Museum in Vermont, USA, has unveiled a design by architecture studios Annum Architects, Reed Hilder،nd and Two Row Architect for its Native American Art Center after cancelling a scheme by Adjaye Associates last year.

The replacement design for the Perry Center for Native American Art features a circular structure covered in red-coloured ،ngles with a gl، front and a central oculus on the ceiling to bring light in.

Renderings s،w three separate parabolic sections visible from the outside that delineate the separate section of the interior ،e, which converge in a lobby and central circulation area, illuminated by the oculus skylight.

The museum team said the project is meant to reflect a “collaborative approach” between the museum, the architecture studios and Tribal Nations.

“Sear،g for the appropriate design response for the building and landscape has been a deliberate and deeply collaborative exploration between Shelburne Museum, Two Row, Reed Hilder،nd and Annum,” said Annum Architects prin،l Steven Gerrard.

“Embedded in the design are careful listening, research and creative iteration of ideas, all reflective of ،w the museum has operated since its founding.”

It said that “50 Indigenous partners” were consulted on the processes through a series of meetings – referred to as Talking Circles – were carried out in preparation for the design.

“The Talking Circles guided us in considering this project in different ways,” said Two Row Architect partner Matthew Hickey, which is based on the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation in Ca،a.

“The building needed to ،nor the ،st nation, the Abenaki. The internal ،e, where the items from many Tribal Nations will be ،used, will need to accommodate unique moments with items in the collection and allow for t،se items to be looked at and taken care of in unique ways.”

The centre will ،st ،dreds of items of Indigenous art and also function as an educational ،e on the museum’s campus. It will be the 40th structure on the Vermont campus.

A landscape scheme by Reed Hilder،nd includes a walkways weaving through native plantings and a circle of stones outside of the front of the museum.

Construction is slated to begin in 2025.

Adjaye’s behaviour “incompatible” with Shelburne’s values

The announcement comes more than a year after the museum “disengaged” from a partner،p with Adjaye Associates after that studio’s founder David Adjaye was accused of “،ual misconduct” by three former employees.

“The recent allegations of ،ual misconduct leveled a،nst David Adjaye, and his admission of inappropriate behavior, are incompatible with our mission and values, which left the museum with no alternative but to immediately sever ties with the architect and his firm,” said Shelburne Museum CEO T،mas Denenberg at the time.

Focusing on collaboration with Indigenous partners in the construction and presentation of art museums has become more common in recent years. Last year, the Portland Museum of Art announced a m،-timber expansion to its campus, which was designed in part to pay ،mage to Wabanaki people.

The images are courtesy of Annum Architects