herzog & de meuron — caixa forum
February 23, 2008
the best thing about contemporary architecture outside of the u.s. is the way it gets integrated into the fabric of the historical city. the new herzog and de meuron designed caixa forum (http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/centros/caixaforummadridedificio_es.html) in madrid is shoe-horned into a narrow site bordered by tiny streets and looks like the junky space craft from ‘alien’ landed on top.
an old pink brick warehouse-style building was cut off at the knees and seems to float off the ground. in itself, that would look startling, but add an enormous, rusting, perforated steel-clad hulk to the roof and you get crowds of curious viewers.
the texture of the old pink brick and the tracery of the rusty steel are beautiful against the planted wall of the building that fronts paseo del prado. we didn’t get inside (and i hate it when buildings look good from the outside but don’t function well inside) but as a sculptural form in the context of the city, this gets 5 stars from me…
paseo del prado, 36 madrid
February 23, 2008 at 8:29 pm
I didn’t know about this Herzog & de Meuron building… Have you been to the Prado yet? Am curious to hear what the Rafael Moneo building is like, and whether Christina Iglesias’ installation is any good.
February 25, 2008 at 1:31 pm
‘to design space you need to understand how to move through it’ – leslie laskey at washington university in 1977.
the caixa foundation building does not touch the ground but it does not float and it does not choreograph. it is the two tone barbell lifted above a weightlifter in a well executed ‘clean and jerk’. stay clear.
i much prefer the attenuated weightlessness of piano’s morgan library addition in NY. an equally challenging urban site where the building floats ‘en pointe’ as it quietly leads you through daylit space.
February 25, 2008 at 4:14 pm
the moneo addition to the prado is understated and nice. not as nice or as understated as the above mentioned piano morgan library addition. the nicest touch are venetian plaster walls in luis barragan hot pink…
as to christina iglesias… i missed her gates. too focused on seeing the best collection of paintings in the world with a 4 1/2-year-old in tow.
January 7, 2009 at 11:27 am
I really liked your pictures. I would like to publish some of them at an architectural magazine from Buenos Aires. Please contact me al luisogrady@donnsa.com.ar
Best, L