The Bass Museum in Miami Beach Reopens After Major Expansion

The Bass, a public museum in Miami Beach, has reopened after a transformative expansion and renovation led by architect David Gauld, with Arata Isozaki as consultant. The project adds 50% more space (totaling about 1,500 sqm), including four new galleries, a café, a shop, and a dedicated Creativity Center with its own entrance. Key changes include removing a ramp to restore axiality, adding a new staircase, enclosing a courtyard with a glass roof, and creating a new portico for the education wing. The museum's collection of art and architecture now spans three generations: the original 1930s Art Deco building by Pancoast, Isozaki's 2001 addition, and Gauld's contemporary interventions. The reopening exhibitions feature Pascale Marthine Tayou's "beautiful" and Ugo Rondinone's "good evening beautiful blue," with Mika Rottenberg scheduled for December during Art Basel Miami Beach 2017. Director Silvia Cubina emphasizes the museum's urban role and its new education facility as the largest in Miami-Dade County. The project was funded by the Miami Beach Commission and aims to engage local residents, seasonal migrants, and international tourists.