Mingei International Museum Transformation

2024 Design Awards Citation Recipient

Mingei International Museum Transformation

San Diego hosted the Panama World’s Fair in 1915, building a series of Spanish revival structures housed in already historic Balboa Park. Mingei International Museum found its home at the original 1915 ‘Mining Building’ on Plaza de Panama, the city’s most important public gathering space. With the design leadership of LUCE et studio, Mingei re-opened its doors in 2021 after a comprehensive transformation that included a 2,400SF addition to the building; one of the first in the history of Balboa Park.

Close coordination with Historic Landmarks allowed 7 new entry archways to be carved into the windowless historic façade, opening the museum’s offering to community. A quadrant of the site was deemed non-historic, allowing the addition of a new community theater and rooftop garden and amphitheater. Throughout the newly conceived museum, Mingei’s mantra of sharing ‘Arts of the People’ through design, craft and folk art is strengthened.

An arts research library, rooftop terraces, a sculptural bell tower and a ground floor / free to the public ‘living room’ further the museum’s mission of being accessible to all. A site-specific art program was established by LUCE locating permanent installations that bring conceptual and functional value to each space. An all-female roster of artists including Claudy Jongstra, Petra Blaisse, Mira Nakashima, Christina Kim, Sharon Stampfer and Billie Tsien have created works that live fluidly with exhibitions.

Mingei is a cultural gift to San Diego, made possible by a grass roots campaign to elevate a humble museum to a world stage. At every turn the museum endeavors to share ‘art for all’.

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This is a beautifully designed museum with every detail carefully considered—the incorporation of artisans to craft key elements makes it even better. Excellent execution.

//framework for design excellence measures

Measure 1: Design for Integration

In a collaborative setting, the architect and Mingei revised the original brief. Through travel and research analysis, the architects proposed a series of initiatives that would link Mingei to a broader global effort to change the purpose of museums in the 21st century. These included:
a. opening spaces to more flexible use and invitation
b. bringing natural light into public areas
c. making museums more social and inviting
d. considering landscape as a critical part of a museum’s life
e. blurring boundaries of programming
f. introducing new uses to engage a more equitable access to all who visit
g. integrating digital tools to educate and describe works with heart and soul
The resulting new comprehensive brief included these initiatives; all concepts that each Board and Staff member could support and speak to as the planning stages evolved. In concert with the AIA Framework for Design Excellence, the shortlist accomplishes much.

Measure 2: Design for Equitable Communities

We worked with the museum, city officials, and the public to envision a design for the museum expansion and its surrounding context, discovering how the project could become a catalyst for change in Balboa Park and the community it serves.

Measure 3: Design for Ecosystems

Integrate the museum spaces within the Historic Park to connect with landscape, history and to invite the entire community to experience a sense of belonging and pride in their cultural heritage as they enjoy the city’s most important open space.

Measure 4: Design for Water

The Mingei Museum sits in a 1915 building that was somewhat upgraded in 1995. 2 other Arts based tenants occupy the lower floor. Mingei provided upgraded water systems, plumbing infrastructure and water quality to all tenants, taking on a responsibility once assigned to the city. Mingei took its environmental responsibility seriously at all turns

Measure 5: Design for Economy

The redesign includes design strategies that provide flexible spaces for multiple use, including the indoor/outdoor performing arts theater which also functions as an event space. Express, through thoughtful and practical architectural solutions, Soetsu Yanagi’s original desire to preserve/ celebrate simple human hand-craft. Introduce digital conversations through architecture methods, materials and

Measure 6: Design for Energy

1306 MWh of purchased green power. Appropriate hvac zoning and controls for zones with solar exposure and interior vs exterior spaces. CO2 sensors in private offices to modulate airflow, building control system able to include static pressure reset controls. 80% ENERGY STAR rated equipment.

Measure 7: Design for Well-Being

Use the museum collection and new architectural spaces to reach a broader, diverse audience that understands their place is building the community’s strength. Provide open space to share and connect to. Add public landscape, stewarded by Mingei to Historic Balboa Park.

Measure 8: Design for Resources

In accordance with LEED standards, the design for Mingei incorporates natural light, accessibility, tunable white lighting, acoustic comfort, and careful material selection. The materials used are expressive of the values of the museum’s mission; to celebrate that which is humble, authentic, sensorial, culture-rich, enduring, and innovative. Authenticity of all materials was essential; materials of the earth along with zero waste artists commissions are throghout the musuem. Recycling of demolished materials was important.

Measure 9: Design for Change

Mingei is a beloved place in our community, with a diversity of visitors that is unparalleled in this city. The elders of the museum volunteer team interacts with youth and young adults; each speaking a similar language of craft and it effects on the mind and soul. Textures, unique materials, scents and sounds play into the enjoyment and curiosity experienced by those who expected something more traditional. Under -served communities feel comfortable coming to a museum in the Park where the entire ground floor is free access including the education wing, the demonstration gallery, the courtyard and amphitheater.

Measure 10: Design for Discovery

Not one design decision was made without everyone’s buy-in. there was an open process of dialogue that that built trust. Visitor relations staff and docents meet regularly with the architects to discuss how best to present architectural concepts and share with the community. A series of QR codes allow visitors to listen to stories narrated by the commissioned artists and architects describing stories of how artworks, materials and spaces were conceived.