Imagine Tacoma: MoG BassAckward & Greened-up (24. July 2008, 12:04 by David Boe) ~ The Big Spin
After re-reviewing the massive heat island of Tollefson Plaza last week (but the City of Tacoma has embraced sustainability!), Imagine Tacoma looks at what the Museum of Glass ‘might’ be if it became a little more Mayan and a little less Egyptian:
Reduce the Concrete
The original minimalist design has been significantly altered with the addition of multiple handrails, etc… – so why not remove most of the concrete paving and replace with plantings? The structure has been designed to accompany concrete and a live load of pedestrians – so it should be more than adequate to support a field of alpine succulents or similar. This would provide strong clarity to the existing walking routes around the roof to view the art and the environs (as accomplished so well by Arthur Erickson in the Robson Square in Vancouver, BC).
Add Art
These fields of green can now hold a collection of exterior sculptures – and was this not the roof concept to begin with? (and fix Howard Ben Tre’s Fountain – this failure of action has gone well beyond embarrassing).
BassAckward
And since we are entertaining what ‘might’ be – how about turning the interior of the museum back to front. The main entrance relocated to Dock Street with the elevator and stairway providing direct access to the museum from Dock Street (the Elderhostel mobs can disembark the tour bus direct to the front door), the Bridge of Glass (Free the Chihuly Bridge!) and the public parking garage below. This would allow the ‘public’ amenities of the museum to be at the main entrance – and the classroom becomes the gift shop, the gift shop becomes the classroom, and the café is relocated to an empty storefront along the Esplanade to allow for additional gallery space to be constructed. The ticket counter is already on wheels – so it should not be that difficult.
Such a reorganization would provide a clarity to the interior organization of the museum, increases safety and convenience for the entrance sequence, creates a more urban facility with a stronger functional connection to Dock Street and the Chihuly Bridge, provides for additional gallery space to the interior – and it can be transformed into the oasis from the surrounding concrete (rather than homage to it).
David Boe has been the Principal Architect for BOE architects in downtown Tacoma for the past 12 years. David's kept married to his best friend for the past 26 years and he writes for us because it's cheaper than therapy. He avoids jelly beans or candy canes but will get up close and personal with chocolate chips cookies anytime.
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I really like this idea. there is so much space of there for some green feature, and the whole concrete minimalist thing is goin out of style anyway.
1 | Posted by Michael | Jul 24, 02:04 PM
Once we get the interior of the museum facing downtown, maybe we can get the exterior to do the same. Unless that was like, you know, a symbolic gesture on the part of the founder?
3 | Posted by Squid | Jul 28, 12:01 PM
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