Mingei International Museum

In 1915, San Diego hosted the Panama Pacific World’s Fair. A series of Spanish Revival buildings were erected to house exhibitions. Today, Mingei International Museum occupies an historic building building on Plaza de panama, the city’s most important public space. The museum re-opened its doors after a comprehensive transformation; a series of restoration initiatives and an addition to the building (one of the first in the history of the park).

The 1915 exhibition building looked inward with few openings and just 1 entrance to the 20,000sf plaza level. Working with Landmarks staff, LUCE discovered places where space could be added with a gesture towards OPENING Mingei towards its community. In addition, a defunct loading docking space became a new theater, outdoor gathering space and rooftop courtyard. 

All of these interventions set the tone for integrating Mingei into the fabric of the Park, and the City. The Historic building now has 7 new entrances cut into existing solid arches along the Plaza arcade, letting natural light and breezes into the plaza level spaces. Large glass openings invite visitors inward and project the purpose of Mingei outward; to share the Arts of the People. Affectionately named, the Plaza Level of the museum has become the ‘Living Room of the Park’; a place to wander, learn, share coffee, sit on the amphitheater steps, watch a crafts demonstration, shop, eat and simply respite; all at no cost and all through inviting architectural details that make ALL feel comfortable and welcome.

The Public Gallery is meant to display offerings from the collection to ALL. Free admission allows every visitor to the park a glimpse into the world of Mingei. In the process of site measuring, LUCE discovered a never-utilized space sitting at the base of the Historic Belltower space evident on the façade. This became an opportunity to re-energize the tower, building a stairway to the Gallery Floor. Permanent collection works found homes throughout the renovation and the team selected a Dale Chihuly work to hang in the tower. The architects sculpted the tower wall to embrace the artwork with chamfered venetian plaster walls (a nod to the venetian glass) that twist towards the skylight above. A local, young drywall subcontractor learned the plaster technique with the architect and worked the entire space himself, pointing to the pride gained from participating in the act of Craft.

Mingei is a museum celebrating craft and design. LUCE made careful choices to suggest programming and design elements that would further the mission of speaking to the sensorial character of craft. LUCE  also established a commissioned art program, where artists and architect would work together to locate permanent artworks that have aesthetic, conceptual and functional value to the project. Works by an all female roster; Claudy Jongstra, Petra Blaisse, Christina Kim, Mira Nakashima, Billie Tsien and Sharon Stampfer now occupy their own permanent place in the Mingei collection. 

Mingei Museum makes meaningful contributions to the park and the city at every chance possible. A new garden courtyard atop the new theater building is intimate and offers visitors to the park a chance to find respite and shade. The architects designed a sculptural picket fence to answer a security concern from the city, and yet the fence itself becomes a work of craft, a collaboration with a talented group of metalsmiths. The fence is now a part of the museum’s collection. Art, Craft and Architecture meet here and tell a story.

Mingei has amassed the country’s largest collection of books on craft and folk art. In deciding where to locate this once privately controlled library, the architects suggested linking its wealth of information with the galleries on display. The result is one of the most popular spaces in the museum. Families come to read together about art. Scholars come to study and all book are taken from the library by visitors themselves. Throughout the museum, and particularly here, the architects chose Vitsoe (1960 Dieter Rams) to house the collection. This choice speaks to the power of good design that endures decades in its perfection of engineering and aesthetic. Today, the architect and Vitsoe offer talks about good design, classic ideals and the value of objects that are kept in families; not tossed away between generations.

Mingei is a cultural gift to San Diego, made possible by a grass roots campaign to elevate a humble museum and its dedicated Board to a world stage for culture and the celebration of craft. At every turn the museum endevours to share openly art of the people; art for all.