* Architecture: Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture by David Adjaye and FAB

Architecture: Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture by David Adjaye and FAB: “..Bronze plates will cover the tiered exterior of the building, perforated in patterns that reference the history of African American craftsmanship.. the museum will accommodate more than half of its volume below ground..”  ”The design rests on three cornerstones: the “corona” shape and form of the building; the extension of the building out into the landscape – the porch; and the bronze filigree envelope.”..

image + article: Dezeen

designalog@live.fr

Architecture: Natural History Museum of Utah by Ennead Architects

Architecture: Natural History Museum of Utah by Ennead Architects: “..The simile of architecture-as-geological-formation extends to the building’s exterior envelope, where horizontal standing-seam copper—mined on the opposite side of the valley..”  Though on track for LEED gold certification, it seems that the solar considerations were all negative..protect from too much, rather than using that renewable energy to power the museum..

image: Jeff Goldberg/Esto/Architectural Record + article: Architectural Record

designalog@live.fr

Architecture: Arche Nebra Museum by Holzer Kobler Architekturen

Architecture: Arche Nebra Museum by Holzer Kobler Architekturen: “..We chose the symbol of the solar barge for the construction of the centre. Visible from far away, the body of the building is covered with yellow anodized aluminium and appears to float above the glass-encased entry level..”  And solar design in all this?  It would seem most appropriate..

image + article: ArchDaily

designalog@live.fr

Architecture & Design – Diller Scofidio + Renfro Design for Los Angeles Broad Collection Art Museum

The parking lot next to the Frank Gehry designed Walt Disney Concert Hall will be the site for the upcoming Diller Scofidio + Renfro designed Broad Collection art museum

image: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times

Christopher Hawthorne has written an interesting article entitled “Critic’s Notebook: Eli Broad and the Diller Scofidio + Renfro museum design” in the Los Angeles Times looking at the very recently approved Eli Broad art museum to be built in Los Angeles, just across the street from Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall.  Christopher Knight, also for the Los Angeles Times, has written an article entitled “Broad Collection building design is upside-down” looking at Diller Scofidio + Renfro’s design for the Broad Collection/Boston’s Institue of Contemporary Art and the error that the architects are about to repeat in Los Angeles.

Are art museums still about art?  Or have economic concerns now imposed the “culture mall” vision? One supposes that it means something when both articles appear in the “Entertainment” section of the newspaper…

And what do you think?
Share this post on Twitter, Facebook, …

designalog@live.fr