In its short history of some 35 years, the Kimbell Art Museum has come to occupy a distinctive place in the international community of museums. A small collection of less than 350 works, acquired at a time when the supply of great masterpieces was thought by many to be drying up, the Kimbell has nonetheless become a byword for quality and importance at the very highest level. The Kimbell Art Museum is widely regarded as one of the most outstanding architectural achievements of the modern era. Designed by the American architect Louis I. Kahn 1901–1974, the Museum has won wide acclaim for its classic modern building since its opening in 1972. Kahn’s innovative use of natural light and subtle articulation of space and materials greatly enhance the experience of the art. Kahn envisioned a museum with “the luminosity of silver.” In his design, “narrow slits to the sky” as he described the skylights admit natural light, which perforated metal reflectors disperse onto the underside of cycloidshaped vaults and down the walls. Courtyards, lunettes, and light slots vary the quality and intensity of the light. The building’s gracious proportions, fine craftsmanship, and beautiful landscaping add further to the sense of serenity and restraint.

Website: https://www.kimbellart.org/index.aspx