Ventura Venture

Staff -- Interior Design, 1/28/2003 12:00:00 AM

Utilizing a 21st-century architectural vision while at the same time connecting it to the community and solving its problems, ACMP Design Principal David Martin won an invitational competition for his design of the renovation of the 30-year-old Ventura County Museum of History & Art.

Martin's design for the renovation and an addition has been approved by the museum's board of directors, which is mounting a fundraising campaign for the $3 million project.

"The architecture is designed to help create one of the country's great small museums," Martin said. "We want to bring an exciting cultural destination that will add significantly to the ongoing renaissance of downtown Ventura."

Included in the renovation are a dynamic new facade, giving the museum the street presence it currently lacks, as well as walls of river rock and cedar which are materials that are naturally available and symbolically significant to the region and that connect the new areas to the historic San Buenaventura Mission next door. Said Martin, "The museum sits where the Mission's orchard was 200 years ago. The museum now shows a tangible connection to its site."

In addition, 18,000 square feet is being added to the complex in the form of a new building. The architects have choreographed spaces to evoke a sense of exploration and mystery in the museum's collections, ranging from Native America artifacts to surfboards. A path through arcades and passages will connect a series of protected courts, open gardens and museum exhibits. The new structure will surround the existing 15,000 square foot museum with an assemblage of building modules for galleries, shop, cafe, storage and meeting rooms. "We presented a place that would be comfortable and intellectually stimulating to the residents of Ventura County and beyond," noted Martin.

Fisher & Partners and Barton Myers Associates were among the finalists for the redesign.

In addition to Martin, the ACMP design team included Carey McLeod, project director, Jeff Su, associated designed, Norm Title, project architect, and Elizabeth Eshel, interior designer. Affiliated firms working on the project are Nancy Power & Associates, Paul Lindhard, G&W, MB&A, KPFF, and Iskander & Associates.