HDS redesigned the gardens for the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) gardens by breaking the box: the studio realized the museum’s mission to create a free public space by activating the interface between the museum and the city. As OMCA programming represents the context and culture of its city and its state through programs and exhibitions, so too must its gardens welcome and represent Californians.
Designing the gardens investigated what it meant to be a museum for the people. Sometimes, the answers were contradictory. As a viable civic institution, the museum must be commercially viable. To best honor its landmark architecture, it must employ sustainable energy production and consumption.
HDS focused on the museum’s garden perimeter to define strong civic spaces. New planting, lighting, and seating areas break the hard line of the perimeter and connect the city and the museum. Street improvements reflect elements of the OMCA building façade. Along the eastern edge of the museum, a tree-lined pedestrian way links the museum to the Kaiser Civic Area and improves access to Lake Merritt. Café OMCA opens onto the lake, further facilitating movement in and out of the museum.
The new design builds from the architectural and landscape legacy established by Kevin Roche and Dan Kiley. Research and analysis by arborists encouraged preserving certain elements of the original garden design. In other instances, HDS made alterations that respected the original design intent and geometry. A new series of ramps increases access to garden terraces, and expands their use in museum activities and event rentals. The California gardens occupy the elevated terrace spaces in front of the gallery windows, and continuous drifts representing diverse California landscapes ebb across the terraces.
Oakland, CA 2021
Budget: Withheld
Size: 2 Acres