Asian Art Museum of SF   

200 Larkin St
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-581-3500
www.asianart.org

Directions   Email   Send to Cell  

The usual preservationists grumbled when SF's Asian Art Museum announced it would move from its Golden Gate Park home to the former Main Library in the Civic Center. Those grumbles have died now that the new facility is open. The spectacular makeover by architect Gae Aulenti preserves much of the original library structure's beaux arts-style detail while creating a dynamic 33-gallery showcase for both traveling exhibits and the museum's own vast collection of historic and modern works from throughout Asia. More than 2,500 works from the collection will be on regular view -- double what the old museum allowed. Notable building additions include a skylight-lit courtyard on the ground floor, classrooms, an education resource center, museum store, Cafe Asia (featuring an outdoor dining terrace), interactive displays and a dramatic two-story escalator (which abets rather than replaces the original grand staircase). Needless to say, the Asian Art Museum is now one the most important facilities of its kind in the U.S. -- Dennis Harvey