Richard Meier offers to design for PO site

Frank,

You probably get it absolutely.

http://www.richardmeier.com/?page_id=7573

I think Mr. Meir is an incredibly talented architect and his work (and that of the many architects that work for him) is very beautiful, but it is almost always a white object in the landscape, or a object set against a different urban fabric (see museum in Barcelona). I'm not sure that's best for the PO site, but I guess we'll see.

I certainly can't see Mr. Meier re-using the existing PO building, since I can't think of one other building where he incorporated and existing building. (the museum in Frankfort is a new building that surrounds and attaches to the existing traditional building with a bridge)

sarahzm said:

I assumed the post suggesting the museum was a joke.

I think making the entire building a museum would be a bad idea.

It might be a good idea to have a public space in the building (even if it is small) that might relate in some way to an exterior public space like perhaps Ricalton Sq.

Richard Meier discusses context (and scale):
http://tinyurl.com/maglsnm

PS: I would much rather a new, Meier designed, Columbia High School.

That would be fantastic!

Eek. Substituting a beautiful building with character for an unattractive, sterile, 'looks like a set for a SyFy series' building??

ice said:

I find it mildly disturbing that members of the TC seem willing to push the notion that Meiers should be somehow forced onto the current architect/developer.

In any event, will probably be a non-issue given the valid issue raised by SGW and others above.

You may be reading too little or too much into the TC's response.

In any case, all much ado until this email is clarified.

Frank said:

It defies basic logic that people who are bemoaning the current plan because it doesn't fit the character of the village are now interested in something like this. I just do not get it. At all.

Nor do I. Though there's always the throw-it-up-and-see-what-sticks theory that's seemed to apply pretty well and quite often.

If I thought the 'opposition' was grounded in any kind of reality, I would assume that this attempted detour into Meier-land was a shrewd manuever to delay the project and possibly to make it such a hassle for the developer that he would walk away.

But of course I do not think the 'opposition' is grounded in any kind of reality.

That said, even if this is not the 'opposition's' intent, if the TC forces participation of a second architect with strong opinions and designs that don't fit (or an insistence on keeping the old building), it could have the unfortunate impact of delaying or killing the project (at least with the approved developer).

It would be highly irresponsible of the TC to allow for that possibility at this stage.

I've just communed with Antoni Gaudi and he's agreed to to design the new building. The only cost is that we provide an endless supply of absinthe. I've taken upon myself to tell him that we'd want something like this, as it perfectly fits the character of the village.

There will be a walk-up seance this Saturday on the BofA steps if you'd like to ask him some questions.

Corrected course for you all...Meier is against demo - he is in favor of saving the building and re-purposing it. He said so at CHS 2 weeks ago. Let's see how this plays out.

Ah, the legendary "paint it white inside and outside, then fill it with chairs and a foosball table" form of architecture he's world famous for.

when Meier was against demo, what was he told would be built on the site? was he shown the photos of the Station House, 3rd and Valley, and the PSE&G site?

the building looks like it should be recycled, not repurposed.

dave23 said:

I've just communed with Antoni Gaudi and he's agreed to to design the new building. The only cost is that we provide an endless supply of absinthe. I've taken upon myself to tell him that we'd want something like this, as it perfectly fits the character of the village.

There will be a walk-up seance this Saturday on the BofA steps if you'd like to ask him some questions.

I was in contact with Gaudi as well, and when I insisted to him that an enormous cathedral would be way out of scale with our village, he changed his mind. He was a firm believer in repurposing, and showed me an example of what he could do with an existing structure. His idea was to transform the post office into this:

ml1 said:

when Meier was against demo, what was he told would be built on the site? was he shown the photos of the Station House, 3rd and Valley, and the PSE&G site?

He saw the rendering of the proposed building by JMF. Dunno about Sta house, PSEG and Valley. I think at their presentation they also said that they drove around town, both SO and Mplwd and looked at the buildings.

IndaSechzer said:

Corrected course for you all...Meier is against demo - he is in favor of saving the building and re-purposing it. He said so at CHS 2 weeks ago. Let's see how this plays out.

The article mentions that Meier said in his email that; “[The proposed building] shouldn’t be built.”
and that; “I’d (he'd) be happy to design something for the site”

That doesn't mean he's against demo or for repurposing.

ml1 said:

dave23 said:

I've just communed with Antoni Gaudi and he's agreed to to design the new building. The only cost is that we provide an endless supply of absinthe. I've taken upon myself to tell him that we'd want something like this, as it perfectly fits the character of the village.

There will be a walk-up seance this Saturday on the BofA steps if you'd like to ask him some questions.

I was in contact with Gaudi as well, and when I insisted to him that an enormous cathedral would be way out of scale with our village, he changed his mind. He was a firm believer in repurposing, and showed me an example of what he could do with an existing structure. His idea was to transform the post office into this:

Can you put me in contact with Gaudi please?...I have a few questions for him.

the rendering of the proposed building wasn't made public until after Meier's appearance. He couldn't have been shown the rendering that's actually intended for the space.

rukidding said:

IndaSechzer said:

Corrected course for you all...Meier is against demo - he is in favor of saving the building and re-purposing it. He said so at CHS 2 weeks ago. Let's see how this plays out.

The article mentions that Meier said in his email that; “[The proposed building] shouldn’t be built.”
and that; “I’d (he'd) be happy to design something for the site”

That doesn't mean he's against demo or for repurposing.

Obviously all of that needs to be clarified.

Someone should post the email then, in the interest of transparency, yes? Seems like a lot of baseless conjecture without it.

IndaSechzer said:

rukidding said:

IndaSechzer said:

Corrected course for you all...Meier is against demo - he is in favor of saving the building and re-purposing it. He said so at CHS 2 weeks ago. Let's see how this plays out.

The article mentions that Meier said in his email that; “[The proposed building] shouldn’t be built.”
and that; “I’d (he'd) be happy to design something for the site”

That doesn't mean he's against demo or for repurposing.

Obviously all of that needs to be clarified.

Then no need for a "Corrected course"

ctrzaska said:

Someone should post the email then, in the interest of transparency, yes? Seems like a lot of baseless conjecture without it.

I'm shocked to find out there has been baseless conjecture in this establishment. Round up the usual suspects!

Who knew?

LOST said:

ridski said:

Actually, in all seriousness,

Of all people to decide to be serious on a very silly thread, you, really?

You can't tell me it wouldn't be awesome to have a Musuem of Modernist Architecture right in the center of the Village! I would love that!

and then people get bent out of shape when anyone says this type of thing is misleading.

ridski said:

LOST said:

ridski said:

Actually, in all seriousness,

Of all people to decide to be serious on a very silly thread, you, really?

You can't tell me it wouldn't be awesome to have a Musuem of Modernist Architecture right in the center of the Village! I would love that!

people would complain about the entrance fee.

ridski said:

LOST said:

ridski said:

Actually, in all seriousness,

Of all people to decide to be serious on a very silly thread, you, really?

You can't tell me it wouldn't be awesome to have a Musuem of Modernist Architecture right in the center of the Village! I would love that!

not as awesome as a roller disco

hankzona said:

ridski said:

LOST said:

ridski said:

Actually, in all seriousness,

Of all people to decide to be serious on a very silly thread, you, really?

You can't tell me it wouldn't be awesome to have a Musuem of Modernist Architecture right in the center of the Village! I would love that!

people would complain about the entrance fee.

You guys are missing out on a golden opportunity to do something amazing, outside the box, not between the lines, lateral blue sky thinking. Roll with me here, people.

ridski said:

Roll with me here, people.

Roll, you say?

These days, much of what happens on Latches Lane is perceived differently by different people, depending on their side of the street. And no issue splits residents and officials of the Barnes Foundation more than the question of traffic.

http://articles.philly.com/1996-04-14/news/25658869_1_richard-glanton-barnes-foundation-albert-c-barnes

(The Barnes can now be found on a parkway worthy of a Post House rendering.)