Henning Larsen with Nelson Byrd Woltz have unveiled their design for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. The design team is one of the three finalists for a competition held by the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation. the other two finalists include Snøhetta and Studio Gang.
Located in the rich landscapes of the North Dakotan Badlands, Henning Larsen's design takes its inspiration from its environment. "There is a unique and awe-inspiring beauty to everything about the Badlands that you simply cannot experience anywhere else," said Michael Sørensen, design lead and Partner at Henning Larsen in a statement. "The landscape only fully unfolds once you are already within it; once you are, the hills, buttes, fields, and streams stretch as far as you can see."
The building is comprised of four volumes that each shape a formal reference to the geography of the Badlands. The focal point of the collection of structures is the Legacy Beacon, a tower that becomes a visible landmark. Underground, the four volume are linked along a continuous "narrative trail" where Roosevelt's legacy is exhibited and experienced. These are the "roots" of the project.
"Our team’s first design steps for the Roosevelt Presidential Library reveals the deep cultural and ecological history of the Badlands to educate a national and international audience, to spark conversation, and to create the next generation of stewards of this treasured land in the spirit of T.R." said Thomas Woltz, Principal and founder of Nelson Byrd Woltz in a statement.
Upon entry at the lobby, visitors follow a sloping spiral path down to the exhibition level, where their journey along The Hero's Journey begins. This journey explores Roosevelt's life, work, and legacy while also showcasing the landscape of the Badlands. Each phase of the exhibition pauses to emphasize and overlook different aspects of the surrounding landscape.
"The world needs T.R. now more than ever," said Edward F. O’Keefe, Chief Executive Officer of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation in a statement. "I have been asked frequently what Theodore Roosevelt might do were he with us during these challenging times; my answer is simple: T.R. endures. He would persevere, and so that’s what we are going to do." Learn more about the project and other finalists at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library website.
7 Comments
I’ve always wondered how museums like this profit? Located in the middle of nowhere? How do people get to them? Fly, then rent a car, then drive a while? Then what do people do once they get there? Get out of the car, look at some pictures on the walls, get back into the car, drive a long time then fly home?
I love good architecture, but it’s totally inaccessible to the general public. Wouldn’t something like this be better near major towns? Maybe I’m missing the value...
#rickitect
profit and value aren't the same thing.
Don't forget lunch, a coffee, and a trip to the gift shop.
context. site. this is an architecture for a president that is known as one of the biggest advocates for the national park system.
by your argument the national parks aren't valuable because they are "in the middle of no where."
very bizarre point you're trying to make. sign of the times though, where everything is viewed through the lens of profit and consumerism.
there was a time when we built things as public goods...
Meh, pass.
The aerial renders fully disclose what's happening with the site (a huge expanse of surface parking), something that Gang and Snohetta chose not to show.
Which also helps to answer the first question re: profit...
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