I was looking at some new projects in Los Angeles, and I saw this article which says that they are gonna build a new courthouse there. In the article, there is a list of architects who are competing to design this building. So, I saw that Frank Gehry is mentioned. Also, Thom Mayne of Morphosis who is another good architect. Thus, I wanna know your opinion. Thanks
I will personally, always vote for anything by Thom and Morphosis. I just love their work! I don't know if it's their existing SF Federal Building, Caltrans, etc, but I feel that their style exemplifies a NEW civic architecture.
what a wildly unfocused list! morphosis is in pretty well with gsa, obviously. there are several excellent firms there, and most would be good choices - but would deliver completely different results.
the question here is what would the selection folks be looking for? if they want gehry: gehry, if they want heavy research/reinvention but a more quiet architecture: cannon. the others fall between these on a sort of spectrum between signature design style and deep exploration of program and solutions.
it would be great if an l.a. firm were selected. that's a quick way to reduce the shortlist.
Yeah, I know what you mean. Thom Mayne has designed a lot of public/civic buildings which is good. But I was thinking that Frank Gehry probably will want to win this because his Grand Avenue Project in LA has been delayed a lot. Therefore, he would design something really amazing.
SF Federal works because Morphosis's circulation plan encourages interaction - something L.A. could use and no parking structure - this was done to encourage people to use public transit -
we know that, but it would be better if a firm based on LA will design this project because they would care more about the project. As I said that Frank Gehry probably will want to have another great project in the city where he lives.
well, let me tell you, the cost on that bad boy is huge - like 320M huge. and, if memory serves, it's potentially a design/build. if so, most of those teams are going to do as well as their construction partners.
gsa's design excellence program is a great fit for this - it's going to be a hard decision on some levels, probably not so hard on others. my guess is that if one of the 'alterna' l.a. firms gets shortlisted (gehry, brook scarpa, etc.), it's going to be one of the ones who've completed several larger institutional projects.
Putting Brooks Scarpa in the same parenthesis with Gehry is bit of a stretch. I think this is a project for people with actual experience building in that scale, not just speculative renderings. I am for lesser known and younger firms but their past work has to prevail a particular genius for architecture and urban design for that kind of a loaded site and program. You can only go so far by pasting metal screens on every project. In that respect, get the original screen act, Gehry.
All in all, if GSA is getting really adventurous, I think Michael Maltzan would be a good choice for this project. Both Mayne and Gehry already have their marks on downtown Los Angeles. Most others are the corporate big boys looking for a recession aid for a delivery of a safe and trite building.
I will personally, always vote for anything by Thom and Morphosis. I just love their work! I don't know if it's their existing SF Federal Building, Caltrans, etc, but I feel that their style exemplifies a NEW civic architecture.
I dunno - that cooper union building is atrocious.
SF Federal works because Morphosis's circulation plan encourages interaction - something L.A. could use and no parking structure - this was done to encourage people to use public transit -
Interaction and good circulation are not on the top list of priorities for a building that literally and figuratively sentences people to death.
That's like asking for some nice marquetry and gold leaf on the guillotine.
I understand all your points, but I am just asking. Don't you think Frank Gehry would want to have another building in LA? Because the last project that he designed in Los Angeles was the Walt Disney concert hall that is actually built. Since, The Grand Avenue Project is taking a long time to start the broke ground. I am talking about projects in Large scales. I know that he has some projects around LA area but they are not as big as these ones.
shortlist announced and the gray haired master didn't make the cut. of course, the one firm i suggested would have a hard time actually did. glad to see them give b+s a chance...
Shortlisted teams:
Skidmore Owings & Merrill with Clark
Yazdani Studio of Cannon Design, Gruen Associates and Rios Clementi Hale with Hensel Phelps
Brooks + Scarpa and HMC Architects with McCarthy
NBBJ Architects with Mortensen
Will Frank Gehry win this competition?
I was looking at some new projects in Los Angeles, and I saw this article which says that they are gonna build a new courthouse there. In the article, there is a list of architects who are competing to design this building. So, I saw that Frank Gehry is mentioned. Also, Thom Mayne of Morphosis who is another good architect. Thus, I wanna know your opinion. Thanks
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2012/02/14_architects_for_federal_courthouse.php
I will personally, always vote for anything by Thom and Morphosis. I just love their work! I don't know if it's their existing SF Federal Building, Caltrans, etc, but I feel that their style exemplifies a NEW civic architecture.
what a wildly unfocused list! morphosis is in pretty well with gsa, obviously. there are several excellent firms there, and most would be good choices - but would deliver completely different results.
the question here is what would the selection folks be looking for? if they want gehry: gehry, if they want heavy research/reinvention but a more quiet architecture: cannon. the others fall between these on a sort of spectrum between signature design style and deep exploration of program and solutions.
it would be great if an l.a. firm were selected. that's a quick way to reduce the shortlist.
Yeah, I know what you mean. Thom Mayne has designed a lot of public/civic buildings which is good. But I was thinking that Frank Gehry probably will want to win this because his Grand Avenue Project in LA has been delayed a lot. Therefore, he would design something really amazing.
SF Federal works because Morphosis's circulation plan encourages interaction - something L.A. could use and no parking structure - this was done to encourage people to use public transit -
no.
really? how is one to know until the design submissions have been released?
it would be great if an l.a. firm were selected. that's a quick way to reduce the shortlist.
Steven, one of the frms SOM is re-opening their LA office few decades later...
we know that, but it would be better if a firm based on LA will design this project because they would care more about the project. As I said that Frank Gehry probably will want to have another great project in the city where he lives.
well, let me tell you, the cost on that bad boy is huge - like 320M huge. and, if memory serves, it's potentially a design/build. if so, most of those teams are going to do as well as their construction partners.
gsa's design excellence program is a great fit for this - it's going to be a hard decision on some levels, probably not so hard on others. my guess is that if one of the 'alterna' l.a. firms gets shortlisted (gehry, brook scarpa, etc.), it's going to be one of the ones who've completed several larger institutional projects.
Putting Brooks Scarpa in the same parenthesis with Gehry is bit of a stretch. I think this is a project for people with actual experience building in that scale, not just speculative renderings. I am for lesser known and younger firms but their past work has to prevail a particular genius for architecture and urban design for that kind of a loaded site and program. You can only go so far by pasting metal screens on every project. In that respect, get the original screen act, Gehry.
All in all, if GSA is getting really adventurous, I think Michael Maltzan would be a good choice for this project. Both Mayne and Gehry already have their marks on downtown Los Angeles. Most others are the corporate big boys looking for a recession aid for a delivery of a safe and trite building.
I will personally, always vote for anything by Thom and Morphosis. I just love their work! I don't know if it's their existing SF Federal Building, Caltrans, etc, but I feel that their style exemplifies a NEW civic architecture.
I dunno - that cooper union building is atrocious.
SF Federal works because Morphosis's circulation plan encourages interaction - something L.A. could use and no parking structure - this was done to encourage people to use public transit -
Interaction and good circulation are not on the top list of priorities for a building that literally and figuratively sentences people to death.
That's like asking for some nice marquetry and gold leaf on the guillotine.
I understand all your points, but I am just asking. Don't you think Frank Gehry would want to have another building in LA? Because the last project that he designed in Los Angeles was the Walt Disney concert hall that is actually built. Since, The Grand Avenue Project is taking a long time to start the broke ground. I am talking about projects in Large scales. I know that he has some projects around LA area but they are not as big as these ones.
the answer to 'will frank gehry win?' is..... no.
shortlist announced and the gray haired master didn't make the cut. of course, the one firm i suggested would have a hard time actually did. glad to see them give b+s a chance...
Shortlisted teams:
Skidmore Owings & Merrill with Clark
Yazdani Studio of Cannon Design, Gruen Associates and Rios Clementi Hale with Hensel Phelps
Brooks + Scarpa and HMC Architects with McCarthy
NBBJ Architects with Mortensen
more at archdaily
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