Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture
Washingon, DC
In April of 2009 following an international design competition, the team of Freelon In April of 2009 following an international design competition, the team of Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroup (FAB/S) was selected by the Smithsonian Institution as the designers for the National Museum of African American History and Culture to be located on the Mall in Washington, DC. With our winning competition entry as a point of departure, the FAB/S team is exploring alternatives that further develop the design ideas articulated by the competition scheme.
The primary architectural idea for the museum is the crown or corona form. Reaching toward the sky, the bronze clad corona expresses faith, hope and resiliency. Internal to the building, the corona forms a perimeter zone which surrounds the primary galleries. Daylight enters this zone through patterned openings in the bronze cladding and through skylights. At night, the corona glows, presenting stunning views of the museum from a variety of vantage points in and around the Mall.