Establishing a garden with a museum can be a competition between the function of the museum/gallery and the landscape/garden.
In the case of the National Gallery of Australia (NGA), the sculpture garden is a much loved and to be admired work in itself as well as being the home of some of the NGA's pieces of sculpture. The disadvantage being that it is possible to visit the gallery and not be conscious of the garden, let alone the garden as a designed work of art. The garden is an external experience to the main gallery visit. Hopefully, if the NGA ever expands, any new design will allow the garden to be integrated better.
In the case of the Norton Simon Museum of Art in Pasadena, California, the garden has a similar feel to the NGA's garden. It even has gum trees. (some pics here soon) The big difference being that it has several entrants and exits from the main building so that it feels as though the garden is part of the collection as opposed to being located outside and requiring a special exit to enjoy a visit.
The gardens of the Musée du quai Branly have a huge advantage that result from the design of the building. With most of the building being elevated onto columns, it has meant that most of the most of the plot, the landscape, is available for the garden. That is, besides being to the front and rear of the buildings, it is also under the main part of the museum.
Any visitor arriving at the museum, has to enter the garden. To buy tickets, the visitors line up at the exterior ticket box and therefore have time to contemplate the surrounding gardens. To visit the cafe/restaurant (very expensive! - try a nearby cafe), the visitor travels through the garden.
It is the gardens that greet you and it is through the garden that you exit.
We recommend a visit and allow time to roam about and to experience the garden fully from both the front street as well as along the charming back street, where the water features dominate. And take the time to enjoy the details.
And the pictures tell the rest of the story.
>> picture essay (part of the AILA project database)
>> the project page intro on the gardens of the Musée du Quai Branly
Paul Costigan November 2006
other contributions welcomes - please make contact to discuss the possibility