Archinect - News

Editor's Picks #325

2013-07-23T12:34:00-04:00

For the latest edition of the Working out of the Box series, Archinect spoke with Spain-based Brazilian Creative Director/Creative Consultant Gustavo Almeida-Santos of studiogaas.

Therein, we learn Mr. Almeida-Santos is currently attending ETSAM in Madrid, where he is enrolled in a Master in Advanced Architecture Projects. For his studies he is "interested in research on the architecture of fashion catwalks".

News
Over at the NYT Patricia Cohen reported the news Hirshhorn Museum Drops Plan for an Inflatable Garden Roof. Achinector Andrew Davis noted "In the words of Woody Allen, ‘What we have on our hands is a dead shark.’ As has been previously reported, the DS+R project for the Hirshhorn Museum in D.C. will not be moving forward. The reason for this failure is purportedly due to fundraising deficiencies and not aesthetics as the Smithsonian's dense bureaucracy continually reiterates. However, as thisTimes articles suggests, the impermanent nature of this design is not only ...

Suffocating the Bubble of Democracy

2013-07-17T14:20:00-04:00

"To some degree, the very characteristics that promised to make the bubble easier to build ultimately handicapped its fund-raising ability. Because the structure was temporary — Mr. Koshalek envisioned inflating the pavilion designed by the New York firm Diller Scofidio & Renfro in May and October — the museum was able to avoid the layers of approval usually required for any structure destined for the National Mall."

In the words of Woody Allen, "What we have on our hands is a dead shark." As has been previously reported, the DS+R project for the Hirshhorn Museum in D.C. will not be moving forward. The reason for this failure is purportedly due to fundraising deficiencies and not aesthetics as the Smithsonian's dense bureaucracy continually reiterates. However, as this Times articles suggests, the impermanent nature of this design is not only a disincentive for donor's support but also integral to its aesthetics. The failure of this unique project is thus fittingly situated in the democratic heart of Washington D.C. where thoughtful deliberations flourish.

It's official, the Hirshhorn Museum has burst the bubble

2013-06-05T15:03:00-04:00

The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden on Wednesday finally abandoned its long-planned project to cover the museum’s interior courtyard in Washington D.C. with a distinctive, temporary inflatable bubble. Citing financial uncertainties, Richard Kurin, the Smithsonian Institution’s under secretary for history, art and culture, made the announcement. He said outgoing director Richard Koshalek, who resigned last month after failing to receive full support for the bubble...

Director of Hirshhorn Museum resigns over Bubble's uncertainty

2013-05-24T14:49:00-04:00

Richard Koshalek, the director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, said on Thursday that he was resigning after the board of trustees failed to reach a consensus on the future of a long-planned project to cover the museum’s interior courtyard with a temporary inflatable bubble.

Hirshhorn ‘Bubble’ risks operating at a loss, internal Smithsonian report says

2013-05-16T13:13:00-04:00

The Hirshhorn Museum’s proposed Seasonal Inflatable Structure, also known as “the Bubble,” a project announced in 2009 and intended as an architecturally and culturally transformative space on the Mall, would operate at a loss in each of three scenarios examined in an assessment done by the Smithsonian.

“We’ve said from the beginning, and the secretary [G. Wayne Clough] has said it, this is a bold project,” said Richard Kurin, the Smithsonian’s undersecretary for history, art and culture. “We’ve encouraged this, but it has to be raised by private money. In terms of doing that, we’re still trying to raise money for construction of the Inflatable Structure. We’ve been at this for some years. We hope its time has come now, but if not, we look forward to a better time.”

Diller-Scofidio's Hirshhorn Bubble: One More Chance?

2013-02-07T16:18:00-05:00

As a public-art stunt, the Seasonal Inflatable is troubling. The Hirshhorn should build it anyway.

If and when the Inflatable is first inflated, perhaps in fall 2014—that’s the latest, and perhaps the last, aspirational launch date—the architectural pavilion known informally as the Bubble and somewhat more officially as the Bloomberg Balloon could serve as another kind of proof: that Hirshhorn Director Richard Koshalek’s trust in architecture in art is not misplaced, and that his faith in Washington as a cultural capital is not overdetermined.

Kriston Capps writes a convincing article why Diller Scofidio's Bubble should not be bobbled.

Hirshhorn Bubble Project: The Problem With Event Art

2012-11-21T07:10:00-05:00

To fund the Bubble, the museum originally turned to Bloomberg, planning to call it the Bloomberg Balloon in honor of a $1 million (or greater) gift. But, perhaps tellingly, the Hirshhorn has not consistently referred to the Bloomberg Balloon as such, suggesting there may still be room—or the need—for a larger donor. Diminishing federal support certainly won’t fund the Bubble, and to date, the museum's board has not stepped up to bridge the funding gap.

BAM/PFA selects Diller Scofidio + Renfro to design new building

2010-06-23T18:08:00-04:00

Breaking news from Ariane Bicho, BAM/PFA Communications Director:

Following a national search, the University of California, Berkeley, has chosen the world renowned, New York City-based architectural firm of Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) to design the new Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAM/PFA). The new museum complex is targeted for completion by late 2014.
Breaking news from Ariane Bicho, BAM/PFA Communications Director:

Following a national search, the University of California, Berkeley, has chosen the world renowned, New York City-based architectural firm of Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) to design the new Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAM/PFA). The new museum complex is targeted for completion by late 2014.
The announcement comes one day after BAM/PFA’s board of trustees endorsed the recommendation of DS+R from a field of 10 national firms by a BAM/PFA architect selection committee consisting of campus, museum and community representative...

An Inflatable Museum Or...

2009-12-17T14:13:00-05:00

A commentary by Judith H. Dobrzynski on the different ways to spend $5 million. (Previous) I sure hope the $5 million includes a UV coating in the budget, lest the Hirshorn's fate end up being like that of the great balloon at the OC Great park.
A commentary by Judith H. Dobrzynski on the different ways to spend $5 million. (Previous) I sure hope the $5 million includes a UV coating in the budget, lest the Hirshorn's fate end up being like that of the great balloon at the OC Great park.