MASP, one of the most important museums in Latin America, has just got even bigger! Since 2019, the museum has been undergoing an expansion process consisting of the construction of an annex building, called Pietro Maria Bardi. And now, five years later, the work has finally come to an end!
The new building is right next to the Lina Bo Bardi building on Avenida Paulista. With it, the museum will gain up to 66% more space for exhibitions, making the experience even richer and grander for its visitors. Check out the details!
MASP’s annex building to host temporary exhibitions
The Pietro Maria Bardi Building has fourteen floors and almost eight thousand square meters, significantly increasing MASP’s area. It has five new galleries that will host temporary exhibitions, multi-purpose rooms, a restaurant, a café, a laboratory for the conservation of works and even classrooms.
In addition, the ticket office will be moved into the building. In this way, the open space will be free to host a public square, which was the initial desire for the space.
MASP’s annex building will open its doors to the public in March 2025. Until then, the site will also receive an underground tunnel that will allow the two buildings to be integrated and make it easier for visitors to move around. Construction cost a total of R$250 million, which came from donations from individuals.
Who was Pietro Maria Bardi anyway?
MASP’s first building pays homage to Lina Bo Bardi, the architect who designed it. Now, the annex building pays homage to the artist’s husband, Pietro Maria Bardi, who also holds a special place in the museum’s history.
Bardi was born in Italy and came to Brazil in 1946, at the age of 46. Together with Assis Chateaubriand, Bardi was one of the founders of MASP and then became its director, leading the institution for an impressive 45 years.
During his tenure, the museum acquired works by notable artists such as Monet, Cézanne and Vélazquez, transforming it into the most important collection of European art in the entire southern hemisphere.
