Miramonte

Miramonte is the follow-up to Diamante, which was completed in 2002. A collector of miniature paintings, the California client was looking for a suitable gallery to house the collection. Mark Turpin was commissioned to design and build a new modern structure using the same ideas from Diamante.

"As a child, I marveled at the seemingly simple forms of what were actually highly complex architectural designs; for example, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, which was designed by I.M. Pei. As an adult, my favorite buildings combine stone and steel and glass to create dramatic exteriors and inviting interiors. As an artist, I get to ‘change hats’ to become the contractor, once the design work is complete."

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Reflections	An Angle on Miramonte	Beams and Light
Angles on Entry	Ascending Angles	Interior Access
Entry and Stone Detail	Nightglow	Elevation Drawings
Miramonte is named for the reversed mirror image of its unique floor plan, and for the jagged angular roofline, which resembles the mountain ranges of Southern California. The elevations are identical front to back and left to right, but reversed in direction along the spine. The walls are alternately stone and glass, forming hard angles at all four corners. A glass ceiling floods the third floor with light, sending light down through the open center stairwell with its single beam staircase. Eighteen spotlights can be moved to focus on the art, and they bathe the interior in warm light each night. Sections of the exterior walls and window panels are removable to access the collection. Constructed of solid pine and poplar, with acrylic windows; the faux painted limestone walls, exposed steel beams, and travertine floor all blend in a pleasing color scheme with shades of tan and gray. Miramonte makes an exceptional home for fine miniature paintings and sculpture. Dimensions: 37" long, 25" wide, 37" high.