by Patricia Frischer
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| Mary Axe Building - AKA The Gherkin, London |
Lord Norman Foster is a bit more well known outside of the
USA and this became evident why to me in viewing the architectural models on view at the San Diego
Museum Art of Art in Balboa Park. The exhibition Foster
+ Partners: Architecture of Light and Space is such a fun way to get to
know the work of the team that is responsible for so many innovations, especially
in sustainability. The American models are very conservative compared to those
in Europe and the Far and Middle east.
I know his work from the relatively new gherkin i.e. pickle
shaped office building that went up not too far from the Tate Modern in London,
actually called the Mary Axe. But I really loved what he did at the British
Museum by completely re-conceptualizing the library there and opening up the
courtyard that house it, into a light filled space that is grand but also in
keeping with the existing building.
I can’t say as much for the plans for the addition to the
San Diego Museum of Art. Yes, it will be an enormous extra space for art and
gathering. But there is not even one nod to the architecture of Balboa Park and
to the old museum building itself. It will be serviceable, but will not become
a destination building. The only thing it really reflects is the rather dull
Timken Museum across the courtyard from it. Our friend, Kaz Maslanka ponders,
“Could there be a compromise façade to the new wing, perhaps in the older style
but made with new transparent materials? Could we please ask for something a bit
more innovative in style, if it is not going to relate at all to the history of
park. It is a sound conservation solution, but I feel we deserve more.
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| Hall of Realms, Museo del Prado, Madrid |
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| The Glasshouse International Center for Music, Gateshead, England |
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| Great Court, British Museum, London |
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| Reichstag, New Parliament, Berlin |
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| Reichstag, New Parliament, Berlin - separate larger model of dome and interior |
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| New Wing Proposal for the San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park, San Diego |
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| Large scale photo conceptualization of the entrance to the New Wing Proposal for the San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park, San Diego |
My little video of the model.
The
San Diego Museum of Art: A New Vision with Foster + Partners is
the video which shows a building that is stunning in its function. There is also a video interview of Sir Norman Foster. And I am glad to say there is a place in the exhibition
that asked for your opinion of this plans. Please do go and let your voice be
heard.
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