Frank Gehry designed the New World Symphony in Miami Beach that is currently under construction located along 17th Avenue across from the Convention Center near Lincoln Road. Gehry won the commission in 2003 and is good friends with the orchestra director, nine-time Grammy winner Michael Tilson Thomas. The building is projected for completion sometime this year.
Unlike his other projects, this one is actually a box (well two, the second is a parking garage). The heart of the program is the 95,000 square-foot concert hall with a 700 person capacity. But office space, rehearsal rooms, and state-of-the-art media and technical facilities are also integral parts of the program as well. (These facilities will be equipped to send/receive coaching sessions, conferences, and even performances over Internet2—a technology so new I’ve never heard of it!) (Westphal).
The exterior is primarily white stucco and glazing. The white stucco is very appropriate because materially, it fits into Miami Beach’s style (stucco art-deco buildings). This material choice also avoids the excessive reflection, glare and heating costs (of neighboring buildings) that have plagued some of Gehry’s other works, like the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Additionally, on the front elevation adjacent to the park, the six-storey plane stucco will be used as a screen where programs and concerts (going on inside) can be projected at night for the public to watch. The glazed portions, namely the front entrance, will allow pedestrians/park-goers outside to see architectural drama of the interior spaces. Class/rehearsal rooms are unevenly stacked, enveloped by “ribbon-like” curves. (James).
There is an idea about containment within the project. It is a simple, white box that contains magic, movement, and music inside. Essentially, what we know to be typical ‘Gehry style’ is mostly contained within. (James).Gehry seeks to translate this magic to the interior architecture of the spaces with large, curving fluid elements that pierce/project outside of the box creating critical moments. One of these moments is on the front façade above the entrance.
West 8 is the architectural design firm in charge of the public park that will be adjacent to the front façade of the building. Gehry had designed the park, but because of the high commission costs, the city eventually chose to switched to another smaller/local/cheaper firm to take over this portion of the proposal. The project was projected to cost about $200 million dollars to construct while the park is projected at $21 million to date.
Some critics praise the building as a pivotal project in Gehry’s body of work because of it’s emphasis on interior and functionality compared to his other projects that are generally ‘objects’ in the landscape, famous for their exteriors. However, many, like me, are somewhat underwhelmed by the construction and renderings, that depict a rather bulky, awkward design in need of refinement (regardless of the architect that designed it). In the project’s defense, both architect and Thomas (the director) emphasize that most important, this building is educational, and it’s shape is therefore the most practical and functional for student needs.
Whatever the reason, all agree that this building is unquestionably better than the two parking garages that sat on the lot before. The bottom line is that having a building by Frank Gehry on Miami Beach will benefit the students who currently practice in a very overcrowded, rundown building and definitely help this tourist island.
Yes, generally all buildings are compromises between the architect’s vision, the users’ needs, and the financer’s wants, but this particular project seems to embody this struggle (not in a good way). It is part-boring/forgettable (so far) and then part just unappealing.
I’ve past this building everyday I’m in Miami Beach (which is a lot). The first few months, I didn’t actually take notice of it and then when I realized that the architect was Frank Gehry, it confused me. As construction continues, I keep thinking, “is that really supposed to be like that?” But after looking at the exterior renderings and building under construction, it does look like it’s supposed to.
---------------------------------------------------
Hegedus-Garcia, Ines. "Frank Gehry vs Miami Beach." Miamism.com. 20 April 2009.
29 April 2010 http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/6156.html.
James. "New World Symphony Designed by Frank Gehry: A Transitional Piece?" Critque This! US.
18 September 2009. 29 April 2010 <http://www.critiquethis.us/2009/09/18/new-world-symphony- designed-by-frank-gehry-a-transitional-piece/.
Westphal, Matthew. "Photo Journal: Frank Gehry's Design for New World Symphony's New Hall."
Playbill Arts. 13 March 2010. 29 April 2010 http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/6156.html.
No comments:
Post a Comment