 Designed by Renzo Piano, the Menil Collection is a contemporary art museum known for its simplicity, flexibility, open spaces and illumination with natural light located in a small park surrounded by residential housing.Opening in 1986, the -long, two-story-high box of steel, wood and glass contains the artwork collection of John and Dominique de Menil.Houston is home to various styles of residential architecture, from the mansions of River Oaks and Memorial to row houses in the several wards.