Some time ago I started to feel a certain amount over the zeal with which I wrote about the new designs for the World Trade Center. It seems that it was opportunistic and cynical of me to argue that since the new WTC and memorial would be built regardless of whether anyone thinks it should be, we might as well thoroughly, unreservedly enjoy the critical debate about the art and architecture being erected. No matter, those opinions on Ellsworth Kelly's design and Agnes Denes's precedent survive for posterity (and readers who weren't around for the blogspot days).
I intended to stay out of the fray regarding any more 9/11-related architectural hubris, but when J. Scott Barnard tipped me off to the fact that Frank Gehry has been selected to design the Ground Zero Theater Center, I suspected that I wouldn't be able to let it pass without comment. Well, I don't want to impugn with my own mixed emotions about the 9/11 reconstruction process—but I'll say that Gehry has lent his signature to nearly every major city in America, and New York City is not one with which Gehry has strong ties, so if the case for architectural diversity was ever to be made I think Ground Zero presented it. That's all.
Posted by Kriston at October 13, 2004 1:02 PMI think Gehry's getting a little tired. Like every good architectural pop star he has to learn when to cool it. I understand he spent the vast majority of his career in relative obscurity, but this is beginning to resemble franchising. Especially considering Gehry's recent projects seem to consist entirely of art/ performance spaces.
Maybe he should simmer down and do some more residential homes.
Or perhaps he can design a hospital. Now THAT would be interesting.
Posted by: R™ at October 13, 2004 2:44 PMMore origami buildings
Posted by: Lenny at October 13, 2004 2:59 PM"Gehryfication" is a new cool word to express the origamification of American cities... wish I'd thought of it... damn!
Posted by: Lenny at October 13, 2004 3:00 PMDidn't Gehry do the Guggenhein and the MOMA expansion in NYC, or am I confused? In the glorious future, all buildings will be Gehry buildings and the middlebrow everywhere will shout with joy! (and why don't you respond to my emails, man?)
Posted by: Matthew Yglesias at October 13, 2004 3:47 PMDidn't Gehry do the Guggenhein and the MOMA expansion in NYC, or am I confused?
He did the Guggenheim Bilbao in Spain and a proposal for a new New York Gug that has bit the dust. The MoMA expansion is by Yoshio Taniguchi. I don't have an opinion on the new digs at MoMa yet, but a Gehry would never work on their footprint.
Posted by: Modern Kicks at October 13, 2004 8:54 PMkriston never responds to e-mails. well, not entirely. let's just say about one in 50, and those are chosen at random, near as i can tell.
Posted by: matty at October 14, 2004 12:54 AM