Hunter Museum
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Partnering with HK Architects, WMWA was tasked with reimagining the landscape around the historic mansion at the Hunter Museum of American Art. The design addressed the Museum’s need to provide an accessible route that would safely move visitors from the plaza space below the mansion to the event terrace behind it. Although relatively small in scale, the site presented several constraints that informed the design, including a conflict between the three distinctly different architectures of the Museum, the presence of steep topography within a limited amount of space, and the need to preserve the existing historic landscape elements around the mansion. In addressing these considerations, our design proposed a series of arching ramps that sweep across the site, guiding pedestrians along an accessible route from the lower terrace to the elevation of the mansion. Mimicking the arching form of the ramps, a secondary set of concrete stairs provides a more direct route to the front of the mansion. Accompanying the hardscape elements of the design is a diverse planting plan that reflects the artistic context of the museum and works to create an expressive dialogue between landscape and architecture. Flowing bands of perennials creep along the front of the mansion, while clusters of shrubs and small trees soften the surrounding buildings. Our design employs an exhaustive list of native plants that offer several ecological benefits and aesthetic interest throughout the year, breathing life into the space and providing an additional asset that attracts visitors to the museum. Hunter Museum was completed in 2021.
