Unusual in its use of time honored Pennsylvania and Japanese craft techniques and outstanding in the ingenuity of a thoroughly modern hyperbolic paraboloid plywood roof, the Arts Building and Cloister (1963-67), designed by architect and woodworker George Nakashima (1905-90), is one of over a dozen designs built on his property in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Christened as Minguren Museum, the building was intended as a space to display artwork by Ben Shahn (1898-69) and other artists, Nakashima's own furniture, as well as a place for artistic exchange and contemplation.
Of paramount significance is the fact that the Arts Building and Cloister embodies Nakashima's constant search for understanding beauty, art, and spiritual transcendence, as no other building at the property does. His ‘private museum’ became a place to nurture spiritual and intercultural dialogue, but also served family and business needs. Although minor changes have occured within a tradition of spontaneous response to deterioration, the compound exhibits a high degree of originality and integrity. This integrity is also perceptible through its continued original uses.
The complex relationship between living tradition and historic sites, as the property transitions and continues to serve the making of furniture, has compelled the Foundation to lead the preservation of the building and the collection for the public benefit while continuing to serve George Nakashima’s vision for peace.
Nakashima House(ARTS BUILDING & CLOISTERS) 所使用的現代拋物雙曲面膠合板屋頂使其脫穎而出，與在賓尼法西亞洲主流的木造技術或是日本的工藝都有所不同。Nakashima House是由建築師身兼木匠的George Nakashima (1905-90)設計，是他位於賓州紐霍普的土地上數座建築的其中之一。此建築被命名為Minguren Museum明根博物館，旨在展示 本.尚Ben Shahn (1898-69)和其他藝術家的作品，和Nakashima的家具 將此處作為藝術交流和沉思的場所。
Arts Building and Cloister佔有非常重要的意義，因為它體現了Nakashima對美學、藝術和精神超越的不懈追求，在這塊地上沒有其他棟建築可以相提並論，他的"私人美術館"成為一個對精神的滋養與跨文化交流的場所，同時作為家庭兼商業使用。儘管有些微的挑整以面對材料自然的老化，但這個建築群展現了極高程度的原創性與完整性，這樣的完整性也貫徹在他使用的原始設定上。
對於同時是生活情境與文化遺址這樣的複雜關係中，這些建築有所轉變，但是依舊持續的作為家具製作的用途，引導著基金會在提供保存運動的社會責任供大眾參觀的同時，滿足George Nakashima對這裡的願景。
For more information visit George Nakashima Arts Building and Cloister CMP