Art in Architecture

Nestled in a natural ravine in the Ozark hills, and designed by internationally renowned architect Moshe Safdie, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas is an architectural masterpiece. Featuring arched copper roofs and glass-walled bridges over ponds created from the inflow of a natural stream, the museum complements the distinctive landscape of northwest Arkansas. With the addition of a stunning collection of American art masterworks, and extensive grounds comprising 120 acres of native hardwood forest, Crystal Bridges seamlessly blends art, architecture, and nature to create a visitor experience unlike any other. This book tells the story of the creation of Crystal Bridges: from concept and an early napkin sketch to the engineering feats required to construct an art museum of international stature in the path of a natural waterway. Featuring new color photography of the museum’s striking architecture paired with quotes from Moshe Safdie, Building Crystal Bridges showcases a fabulous new museum.