Hot rods meet Hollywood as renovated Petersen Automotive Museum re-opens in LA
The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles reopens today (7 December) following a multi-million dollar redevelopment marking its 20th anniversary.
The museum closed in October 2014 in readiness for an extensive US$125m (€112m, £80m) transformation both inside and out.
The original 1960s building has been painted a bright red and fitted with a ribbon-like stainless steel exterior shell, designed by architects Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. More than 800 LEDs accentuate the sculptural facade of the structure, which is designed to create a feeling of both elegance and motion.
The museum’s interiors have been gutted, with spiralling staircases replacing escalators to create an additional 15,000sq ft (1,393sq m) of exhibition space. Architectural metal experts Zahner, structural engineers Saiful Bouquet and construction company MATT Construction worked on the refurbishments.
Now, more than 100 vehicles are displayed in galleries across three themed floors. Hot rods, race cars and famous Hollywood motors – including the Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover used in the new James Bond film SPECTRE – have been added to the museum’s expanded permanent collection.
Interior designers House & Robertson and Scenic Route have reworked the galleries to include better lighting, digital displays and learning stations telling the stories of the cars, plus the relationship between man and machine through the ages.
Other new attractions include a room of networked Xbox-powered racing simulators called the Forza Motorsport Racing Experience and a glass-fronted studio for Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design, where students will design new cars in view of visitors.
Visitors will also experience a new augmented reality experience, courtesy of Pixar Animation. When activated, characters from the film Cars will guide visitors around an exhibit explaining the science and physics of car technology.
The Petersen Automotive Museum was founded by magazine publishers Robert and Margie Petersen in 1994.
Annabelle Selldorf reunites with gallery giants Hauser & Wirth to design huge LA arts hub
KPF adds contoured steel shell to new-look Los Angeles automotive museum
The Petersen Automotive Museum announces plans for a revamp
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Aman sister brand Janu launching in Tokyo in 2024 with design by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy
The Peninsula London unveils Peter Marino-designed spa inspired by London’s famous parks
First glimpses revealed of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair's subterranean spa retreat
"Architecture is alive" says Ma Yansong, as Shenzhen art museum opens exhibition showcasing work of MAD Architects
Ben Channon has written Happy by Design, a new book about how architecture affects our mental health. He explains how we can all be happier at home