The new building cost about $26 million to build—70 percent below the previous budget. But is less less? When the new plan was announced, Nicolai Ouroussoff, writing in the Times, thought so, calling it "a major step down in architectural ambition."
Ouroussoff was wrong. True, no one can know what the "cluster of pavilions" would have looked like. I can only report that the rectangular building is a triumph. The materials are gorgeous.
— archrecord.construction.com
7 Comments
Nice museum of art and a nice break from all the recent self conscious shape monkey museums exhausting the visitor before even seeing a single piece of art.
The bench ledge at the base of the concrete exterior is a really nice touch. I bet the proportions are well executed for such a simple form.
And doesn't arch record realize that clients slashing 70% of a budget is a common business practice these days?
"slashing" to only $433/sq.ft.?! bring it on!
love it!
It's a promissing building. I love the bench and exposed structure. As an artist, I still think a little more articulation of the wall wouldn't have hurt though.
secretly, you all want to be repentent post-crisis Shakers, right?
@Steven Ward
Well I guess taking arch record at its word "The design replaced an earlier scheme, also by Herzog & de Meuron, for a dozen linked pavilions, each with its own roof..."
12 barns (10,000sf per) for a cost of $82 million = $683.33 per sf.
so yeah, only a 37% cut in sf. cost.
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