The part of the structure housing the Museo d'arte della Svizzera italiana (MASI), stretches out towards the lake parallel to the façade of the former Grand Hotel Palace, along Piazza Luini, but without closing the horizon. Elevated and supported by two red marble bases, it forms a sort of portico that guides the eye towards the lake and the overhanging Mount San Salvatore. A link with the territory is also reaffirmed by the views offered by the exhibition rooms, which frame two remarkable photographic glimpses of the landscape with thin, striking windows.
The museum's 2,500 square metres are distributed over three floors in linear and welcoming rooms, where the choice of wooden flooring and white walls is appreciated in order to make the most of the prestigious collections of Lugano and the Canton of Ticino, consisting of an artistic heritage of over 14,000 works covering a historical period from the end of the 15th century to the present day. The programme also includes the staging of major exhibitions of modern and contemporary artists of wide appeal, facilitated by the rigorous construction choices dictated by the architectural design, with the aim of guaranteeing maximum safety in terms of capacity, conservation and protection of the works. A quality standard that allows for dialogue with any museum reality to establish collaborative relationships.
