The Getty Villa

The Getty Villa in Malibu is a museum of classical antiquities, archaeology, and comparative ancient cultures, modeled on the ancient Roman Villa dei Papiri and surrounded by its grounds. A transformation in excess of $150 million converted the existing site into a new cultural campus, with several new facilities surrounding the museum, both of which underwent extensive renovations.

Working alongside Machado Silvetti, the project team co-created a master plan that corrects the shortcomings of the previous visitor entry approach by creating a new sequence of spaces along the hillside to the west of the existing museum. Drawing on original site design drawings, the grounds superintendent's knowledge, and first-hand study of archaeological sites in Italy as a design reference, the new work is rooted in ancient landscape techniques and styles.

The new entry sequence begins at an entry pavilion that collects visitors from new parking facilities and drop-off points, providing orientation and visitor services. Stairs and elevators lead visitors up to a garden path—the principal connection between the pavilion and the museum entry—culminating in a new central plaza that links the museum to a café, bookstore, 250-seat auditorium, and a 450-seat outdoor theater. Throughout, new gardens and naturalistic landscapes were designed to both anchor the new architecture to the site and to create integrated environmental art.

The result is an environment where architecture, landscape, and antiquity meet—creating a richly layered sense of place that carries visitors from the California hillside into the spirit of the ancient Roman world.