The Hunters Point Community Library is one of the finest public buildings New York has produced this century. But it cost more than $40 million, took a decade and almost died. — The New York Times
NYT architecture critic Michael Kimmelman is full of praise for the Steven Holl Architects-designed Hunters Point Community Library in Queens which will finally be opening to the public next week Tuesday, September 24th.
"Compact, at 22,000 square feet and 82 feet high, the library is among the finest and most uplifting public buildings New York has produced so far this century," writes Kimmelman and asks: "Why can’t New York build more things like this, faster and cheaper?"
3 Comments
:)
That is a lot of money!
Awesome building. Terrible review, as usual.
Kimmelman, suddenly caring about local design after his 5 year climate tour of Asia, basically copies a previous NYMag article about the politics of the building. But this is the very reason why NY design quality has declined over the last 10 years -- because design culture is ghettoed into small real estate trinkets (and rare reviews), exhiled into a separate agency for "public projects." Maybe Kimmelman should be spending more time asking not why this project cost 40 million (note: the Brooklyn Bridge cost 5m in 1875 and took 15 years), but why the surrounding condo towers cost 100x more and look like garbage--unlike the Holl projects in China (and the ignored and rejected Hudson Yards proposal never covered by the NYTimes).
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.