Over a three-year transformation period, the new Moody Patio at Blanton Museum of Art has finally opened, allowing visitors to explore the wonders inside and out. Completed by Snøhetta, this newly renovated outdoor oasis is a fun and welcoming entrance into the museum and was carefully designed to connect the University campus to the vibrant city of Austin.

A standout feature in the landscape is the 12 three-storey-tall petal-shaped structures that form a canopy over the patio. Providing an abundance of shade, the petal-shaped structures feature a complex pattern of dots that cast playful shadows onto the pavement below.

Photography Sloan Breeden Photography via designboom

Not only providing a striking feature to the landscape, the petal-shaped structures serve a functional part in the care of the native plantings throughout the greenspace. With its cone-shaped top, the structures collect and filter rainwater which is then used to water the plant life within the patio landscape.

The uniquely crafted shade canopy is a stunning feature to the museums outdoor space that is not only a functional part of the upkeep of the surrounding plant life but creates an artistic and inviting entrance for museum-goers.