Sculptural panels in white stucco and small triangular windows define the facades of this gallery of the American studio Schaum / Shieh.
Run by an independent curator, the Transart Foundation for Art and Anthropology is located in the Museum District of Houston. The purpose of the foundation is to foster community dialogue on the role of art in everyday life. The project involved the redevelopment of an existing building and the construction of a new multi-functional facility that can accommodate exhibitions, shows and events. The buildings are relatively modest, in keeping with the character of the neighborhood. The modest scale of the Transart Foundation preserves an open relationship to the street.
Rectangular in plan, the new building has a sculptural envelope made of white stucco panels of different shapes. Largely opaque, the façades have angular cutouts that bring bursts of light into the building. Regarding exterior design, the team sought not only to protect the art galleries from the mighty Texas sun, but also to create a building that seems tricky. On the ground floor, visitors enter a central "living room" flanked by galleries. White walls and wooden floors serve as a backdrop for photographs, paintings, sculptures and other types of artwork.
