Renzo Piano will turn century-old Moscow power plant into art gallery
By Mike Chamernik, Associate Editor
An early 20th century Moscow power station will be converted into a contemporary art gallery.
Renzo Piano Building Workshop released its plans on the project, according to Dezeen. The idea is to take the GES2 power station, which was built between 1904 and 1907, and turn it into an exhibition space for the V-A-C Foundation, a Russian art organization.
The building’s central atrium will be 328x75 feet, and the rest of the galleries will be set around it so that guests can navigate the museum without the need of a map. The plant’s chimney will become a natural ventilation shaft that will cut down on energy consumption.
The nearly five-acre site will have outdoor public areas and educational facilities in addition to the indoor art galleries. The outdoor spot will have birch trees and an amphitheater seating area for film screenings.
The GES2 will open in late 2018 or early 2019.