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© 2009 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez – All Rights Reserved
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Daniel Liebeskind transformed this space while paying homage to it’s former self a power substation has transformed and morphed the space successfully to it’s modernity. While the shell remains and the fanciful yesteryear treats are fully intact the rectangular object is provocative and the materials bring the Four Seasons hovering above and the brick structure building below to a more harmonious old meets best. Liebeskind creates a beautiful statement with the rectangle and disparately placed squared windows to keep the eye moving and while your eye is moving this rectangle become predominate and yet more harmonious.
The interior has considerable harmony and provides plenty of walled space for portraiture and other art works. Inside the rectangle is a place to stop; breathe, everyone in this chamber goes to the windows to view the outside world; as if this were a spacecraft–the windows do little more than let in light; the purpose is not to see everything. The lobby is grand; and the rectangle and sharp angles filled with light also dance the eye from one pattern to the next; this space is a great entry path to the floor above. The gallery space is small but that does not surprise since the footprint on the exterior does not mislead one to thinking there is a larger footprint. It works.
Curatorially there is more of a challenge but there is chambering or compartmentalizing that helps to showcase each exhibit within. I like the visual medias and these spoke and made the word contemporary a cognizant and consistent phrase. The Kabbalah exhibit was interactive by one being able to contribute to the art by allowing input on how one can make the world a better place. This structure adds to the Yerba Buena Gardens art establishment and other architectures. San Francisco has needed more useful architectures and spaces the Contemporary Jewish Museum contributes to a more vibrate, celebratory and diverse art scene.
© 2008 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez
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San Francisco’s new federal building is a sigh of relief. San Francisco’s arcane Planning Commission lacks anything that might smack of modernity and he is what they say on their website: “
To guide the orderly and prudent use of land, in both natural and built environments, with the purpose of improving the quality of life and embracing the diverse perspectives of those who live in, work in, and visit San Francisco.
As I understand the Planning Commission was not consulted on the new Federal Building–as the Federal Government need not consult anyone about its edifice creation. And I have to say… that was a good thing. San Francisco’s architecture is outmoded, outdated, and radically futureless. The City has gotten its way and so have developers. The City has to strive for forward-looking architecture that is both kind to environment and on the eye. Stroll down the FinDi on Market Street and the eye is greeted with eyesore after eyesore and there are but just a few exceptions. Even structures built recently are far ancient looking than their materials would testify. The W Hotel on 3rd and Howard Street was originally planned as a Swissotel and the successor hotel operator could not go with a more update option; hence circa 1970s architecture ala late 1990s. The Gap headquarters by Robert A.M. Stern could have mistakenly designed by a university architecture studio class. Unremarkable, a waste of brick and mortar; an un-substantial crown. A symmetry, which to a casual viewer producer instantaneous and un-stoppable yawns. For such a high-profile architect, it is a disappointment that something keeping with modern architectural design and embrace of modern materials could not have employed. I am sure if you randomly asked people on the street when this building was constructed I am sure you would hear a lot of 80s and 90s responses.
Architecture is to inspire and to take upon itself to demonstrate its accumulated knowledge; things coming before that make a future structure un-forgettable and possible.
So when I hear an abundance of criticism of the new federal building; and this building leaves such a visual impression; that it is bold and striving for carving a space that leaves the eye pondering to the next form, the next line, the texture…. from each view it not only looks different it is an all encompassing space that speaks to modern architecture. The southern facade is my favourite view. The stainless sun shading system looks imperfect; and not that it was intentional. The building has gorgeous lines (but the lines are not sharp) but they are softened by the colour of the building a materials. The sun shading system looks like it is even delicate and it also questions the eye–where does the building begin? And there are small randomly placed openings (not windows) but exposure to the light or maybe it is for us? An opportunity to break the view and re-examine the skin of the building? The arching on the roof seems like it floats; levitates. I read a reviewing calling this a post-apocalyptic building; if it is a sign of the post-apocalyptic than I think we are fine.
I also recall there were reporting on the people working inside complaining ad nauseum about the design of this building. But I think that there are people who wouldn’t mind working in that building than say picking strawberries or tomatoes or other hard manual labour.
This building succeeds in creating a visual urban scape that seeks to liberate our selves from the cold architecture of 525, 555 or 575 Market Streets and the other horrific examples in San Francisco. The new federal building will live well into old age while other buildings will continually beg… “what were they thinking…”
Copyright – 2007 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez
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The new InterContinental hotel is a tan and aqua structure. The colours are not harmonious but a form trying to be avant garde. But instead this buiilding is a 100% un-original, in-authentic and seems to have nothing propelling to a current architectural form.
The rectangular form is dull and un-inspired; the entry side has a dated glass that has some curvature that is a cross between Las Vegas and Miami circa 1986. I am sure Crocker and Tubbs would feel at home here. The coloration does not make me want to go inside or wonder the internal floor plans. The rectangular box has some curvature on top that makes me think Marriott. There is no invitation to enter or to keep the eye exploring; no texture or texture that is authentic. It should be required that a building of this stature explore the limits of modern materials and engineering. This is a something that seems to have been designed last century and the plans were dusted off. The aqua glass seems to be so not uncomfortable from an outside perspective; a guest might have this colour blast in un-natural colored light in morning.
The striations on the outside of the building are too elemental and too numerous. This structure looks like it was from a design studio from a high schooler. The rounded top is such an un-interesting finish that I have to look at the nearest object to take my mind off this boring finish.
San Francisco is a conservative town when it comes to architecture and the lag in current architecture is a challenge to city planners; or perhaps eludes them.
Copyright – 2007 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez
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Our daily lives are either enriched or even perhaps negatively impacted; most don’t realize the impact of design; urban planning, architecture, civil engineering, economics, graphic, fashion, product, and technology design. This silent hand is remarkable; ushering in ‘new’ trends and reinventing classics. But design is about subtle actions, a gradual change; a gradual notice of change. It is all incremental. Occasionally , we have change that is dramatic and that is something that we all take notice.
Design, successful design, is not only ahead of his time but stays ahead of it’s time. A recognition of it’s brightness. I like design and wish I had the funds to have studied design or architecture; I had entertained applying to a NAG (non-architectural degree program) a master’s program to study architecture. Maybe in another life. Designer, artists and architects I think are sometimes the most idealistic people in our society. Design for efficiency for maximum utility, maximum socialization and a notation for expression.
Design is in our small devices, large cities, tall buildings. Design makes or brakes our perceptions, imagination. That is what my design blog is about. Enjoy.
Copyright 2007 - James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez
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