Glenstone – Thomas Phifer
Located on 230 acres in Potomac, Maryland, Glenstone is a private museum of modern and contemporary art, integrating art, architecture, and landscape into a seamless visitor experience. Originally designed by Charles Gwathmey in 2006, the museum expanded significantly with the addition of the Pavilions, a 204,000 sq ft building by Thomas Phifer and Partners, opened in 2018.
The Pavilions are partially embedded into a hill, resembling a cluster of quiet forms rising from the landscape. Inside, a ring of gallery rooms surrounds a central Water Court, offering varied spatial conditions tailored to different artworks. The expansion increased indoor exhibition space from 9,000 to 59,000 sq ft.
Designed in collaboration with PWP Landscape Architecture, the masterplan more than doubled publicly accessible meadows, forests, and streams. With scheduled visits, free admission, and careful pacing, Glenstone fosters intimate, contemplative engagement with both art and environment.
