Nature surrounds and permeates the de Young, from the lush greenery brushing its surfaces to its actual architectural design. Constructed to aesthetically complement the landscape of Golden Gate Park, the annular patterning of the building’s copper façade was designed based on pixelated images of the park tree canopy. The façade itself will oxidize over the course of its lifetime, its rust color organically transforming to shades of weathered green. The building’s copious windows offer visitors a continual awareness of the park and the natural landscape outside. Engineered to withstand earthquakes, the building's tower twists as it rises, its base adhering to the park’s grid while its tower corresponds to the city’s grid. This configuration physically represents the institution’s deep relationship with the city and the ways it shapes its collections to serve the city's needs. Together, these elements offer visitors a multisensory experience of nature within a modern architectural setting.
