East Wing - National Gallery of Art
On the National Mall, between 3rd and 9th Streets, Washington, DC
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Erected: |
1971-78 |
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Architect : |
I. M. Pei |
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Style: |
Modernist |
| Building materials: |
Exterior: Lavender-pink
Tennessee marble. Dust of this same marble was mixed with
concrete to create the beautiful color of the interior walls. |
| See also: |
Erik Bootsma, National Gallery East Wing Crumbling From Pei's Inflexibility 2009 (Online June 2014) |
| 2002, 2004 Photos   Much of the structure’s elegance results from its extraordinary building materials, spare lines, and soaring forms.  |
 A large triangular atrium is the dramatic focus of the building’s interior public space. A sculptural space frame covers the atrium and allows brilliant natural light to enter the building.   a "space-frame" of glass pyramids. A screen of aluminum rods reduces the sunlight so that visitors' eyes adjust to the galleries, where dimmer light levels protect the works of art from fading. This space-frame roof also animates the interior by casting a changing pattern of shadows over the walls and the mobile Untitled, commissioned for this space from Alexander Calder.                  |
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