Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement
Designer: Alfonso Architects
Client: Two Red Roses Foundation/Rudy Ciccarello
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Completion: Fall 2016

After scouting potential locations for the new Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement (MAACM), collector Rudy Ciccarello, along with the Two Red Roses Foundation (TRRF), settled on St. Petersburg, Florida—a city known for its significant clusters of Craftsman-style bungalows, concentrated in the Historic Kenwood District. The Tampa-based firm, Alfonso Architects, has been tapped to design the 90,000-square-foot facility, which will house Ciccarello’s extensive collection of Arts and Crafts furniture, objects, lighting, ceramics, and prints and photogravures.

“We took the principal of the Arts and Crafts movement—that is all about fine craftsman and beautiful materials—and springboard off the idea of it,” said principal Alberto E. Alfonso.

The four-story museum will be composed of several galleries, event spaces, an auditorium, restaurant, gift shop, and café—and also include an entire room by renowned 20th century firm Greene and Greene Architects. The design will pay homage to the spirit of the movement with meticulous detailing, while also creating a space that allows the objects and artwork to take center stage.

“The fact that it is a permanent collection really lets us design to the scale of the pieces,” said Alfonso. “Our approach is to do a really, beautiful and minimal backdrop to show off the objects. You want a clear distinction between the object and the container.”

As of now, the building will be a mix of stone, copper, exposed concrete, and Venetian plaster. The interior will also feature copper accents and wood.