a community for classic car lovers
Corvette Museum
Neumann/Smith’s design concept uses bold geometric forms, the juxtaposition of sharp angular forms and soft irregular forms, vibrant color, and factory made components to express the directness, design, technology and performance of this classic American sports car.
vision
Car lovers built this museum–not one dollar was spent by the manufacturer. As a consequence of the tight budget, the ensuing design expresses the directness, design, technology and performance of this classic American sports car. To create the design concept, Neumann/Smith was given thirty adjectives which most represented the car to the client–words like personal, aerodynamic, bold, fun to name a few.
detail
The building pattern generates from a plan that carries visitors through every aspect of the displays in a controlled way. First stop is a 165 seat sloped-floor theater with plush upholstered seating and checkerboard acoustical wall treatments reminiscent of the car’s racing heritage. Visitors next enter a 16,500 sf artificially illuminated exhibit hall focusing on the car’s nostalgia, design, engineering, and performance. The hall is constructed in a loop, allowing visitors to participate in the exhibits as a passage through the car’s creation and development. A stand-up 360 degree mini-theatre is the focus of the performance area.
secret
At the heart of the museum stands the Skycone—a dynamic, tree-lined display pavilion showcasing 20 cars. Piercing asymmetrically through its skylight, an 11-story conical spire adds a striking architectural feature. From above, the building’s design mirrors a Corvette dashboard, with the Skycone as its speedometer, creating an unmistakable landmark for travelers along Interstate 65.
