On a 4-acre hillside site next to a nature reserve of rugged hills and native brush, LUX Art Institue has the distinction of being the first is LEED-certified art museum and residency in California. The museum’s mission is to integrate an artist’s exhibition, studio, and living space into one inviting and educational complex.
The first completed building of the project is a two-story structure that intersects a steep slope to create a private lower level residence for the visiting artists and an upper level double-height studio with expansive views of the surrounding hillsides. At the studio level, a long exhibit wall panel, “the barn door,” slides open to further expand views and reinforce connections to the outside environment while also allowing breezes to naturally ventilate the interior. Large light monitors project from the rooftop at different angles, to capture and funnel natural light into the studio throughout the day.
Further emphasizing environmental concerns, project wastes were recycled, low voc paints and adhesives were employed throughout, and recycled local materials were used in the construction of the project. The gardens were landscaped using native plants with low water requirements.
