Mario Botta's sketch of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

About the architect: The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art reflects Botta’s flair for strong, contemporary structures that layer colors, textures, and materials. Exercising his modernist viewpoint, Botta designed the Bechtler to not only stand apart as a unique contribution to the urban landscape, but also to serve as a strong aesthetic partner among a group of individual design statements. Botta is considered one of the world’s foremost architects whose career spans a variety of building types. He has accepted only two commissions in the United States: the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art – iconic structures that enhance each cityscape.