The Metropolitan Museum of Art

This vision for the Tang Wing builds upon the Museum’s material history. However, it is not a nostalgic continuation of the past but rather a search for layers of meaning that offer new perspectives on the present—and, by extension, the future. As one of the most important cultural institutions globally, The Met embodies inherent pluralities that should be reflected in its physical spaces. This idea recalls the concept of mondialité, as articulated by Martinican writer Édouard Glissant—a term that advocates for global dialogue without erasing the unique identities of individual cultures.

As part of The Met, which spans centuries of artistic expression and architectural styles, the Tang Wing will embody its own layered history while engaging with its broader context: the Museum, Central Park, and the city. It will be a dynamic space, reflecting the evolving relationships it encompasses. A primary goal in the design is to create dynamic connections with its surroundings—fostering both intimacy and interiority, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the artworks while permitting the landscape to filter through the facade at key moments.

Programmatic optimizations maximize the gallery footprint, offering a range of gallery sizes, from intimate to monumental spaces, creating a rhythmic sequence of compression and expansion throughout the wing. Interstitial spaces, serving as vertical circulation hubs, also function as places of encounter and orientation within the Museum’s broader constellation.

The interconnectedness and variety of vertical connections will support a nonchronological curatorial narrative. Seen from a broader perspective, the variety of scales will ensure the wing’s flexibility, encouraging new encounters—both between visitors and between exhibitions.

The wing will comprise a three-story base supporting recessed fourth and fifth floors. On the fourth floor, a combination of exhibition galleries and a terrace will showcase commissioned contemporary artworks, echoing the purpose of the existing rooftop terrace. The fifth floor will host temporary exhibitions, an additional landscaped terrace, and spaces for reflection and community gathering, offering access to privileged views of Central Park and New York City.

Our design features limestone modules arranged in a rhythmic pattern, alternating between opaque and porous surfaces. This interplay evokes the celosía—a traditional Mexican breeze wall with deep historical roots in Spanish, Middle Eastern, and African architectural traditions. The alternating surfaces mediate the complex layers of the facade’s history, signaling that the Museum embraces a multiplicity of architectural expressions, rather than adhering to a single dominant canon.

This building will serve as a canvas to showcase The Met’s international collection of modern and contemporary art, anchored in a setting that reflects the energy and depth of New York City—a city unmatched in its cultural diversity, creative pulse, and sense of community. It also invites a reflection on time—interpreting the traces of the past while thoughtfully shaping the new ones this project will leave behind. —Frida Escobedo Studio