Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art

The Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art, designed by Zaha Hadid, was built from 1997-2003 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The museum was the first American museum designed by a woman. The building looks like a series of floating greyscale Tetris-like shapes. At night, the shapes are lit by lights along the top of the building as well as the windowed spaces between blocks, creating a pleasant variety of shades and emphasizing the shapes. Zaha Hadid designed the building with glass along the walkway, giving passersby the impression of window shopping and inviting them to browse the museum. The interior curves upward, again inviting people to wander further into the building and see the museum. With this museum, Zaha Hadid shifted from an architect known for designs on paper to an architect known for her built works.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *