Abstract
Foundation Beyeler museum located near Basel, Switzerland is one of the most-visited art museum of the world. Although the entire volume of the museum is not huge, its art collection as well as the well-known museum building designed by Renzo Piano deserve to attract many visitors. The initial design was started in 1991 when the city of Basel decided to fund and support the project. Through a couple of design stages, the museum was finally opened to public in 1997. There have been various research papers dealt with general design issues of Beyeler museum such as composition of exhibition spaces, and natural lighting. However, this paper aims to study the design methods and relationship between art, architecture and nature. Although the museum building is located on the site quietly, there are various specific design solutions to create unique spatial experience of art and nature at each parts. This study focuses on 4 parts of the museum that are located on the main circulation. How art, architecture and nature are integrated together is the main target of the analysis. The analysis is based on visual-perceptual experience and spatial configuration. In chapter 2, general background of the project was studied. In chapter 3, characteristics of the site's natural environment and Piano's design concept's were examined. In chapter 4, each parts were analyzed in detail with diagrams. In chapter 5 & 6, the spatial characteristics were compared together and the fundamental role of the museum architecture was concluded.