A classical four square parti is manipulated to create spatial distinctions worthy of the museums important placement and public function within the cultural scope of Atlanta. One of the quadrants is carved out to create the monumental and orienting atrium space whose edge-defining circulation ramps pay homage to the swirling Guggenheim. Meier's characteristically white building houses an auditorium, a ground level court, cafe, museum shop, members lounge, required staff support spaces, and varied display spaces featuring painting, sculpture, and furniture.
Natural light is prevalent and adjustable to meet specific exhibit needs.
The structure consists of steel columns and frame and concrete slabs. The granite plinth acts as a horizontal datum for the ramps and, in elevation, as an anchor for the white porcelain-enameled steel panels cladding the galleries below. The primary intention of the architecture is to encourage the discovery of these values, and to foster a contemplative appreciation of the museum's collection through its own spatial experience. My area of study is architecture and its cultural manifestations, and such a quest for historical knowledge, especially of the arts, arises from my own need for a deeper understanding of the essence of architecture. Oxford University Press, 1976.