tommysmalls
TRIBE Member
.... to German-famed architect, Daniel Libeskind.
Personally, I think he won based on his name alone - his presentation wasn't nearly as thorough and detailed as the one made by Canadian, Bing Thom. I bet if Gehry would have designed a giant cardboard box for his proposal, he would have one.
>>> From Torstar.com <<<<<
CRYSTAL GAZING: Daniel Libeskind's model, called the Crystal, would transform the ROM — and reveal it — through a series of glazed extensions that shoot out from existing buildings at all angles.
Yesterday's announcement that Berlin-based architect Daniel Libeskind has been chosen to redesign the ROM means the country's largest museum will soon become its most dynamic.
Libeskind beat out more than 50 architects from around the world with a striking proposal that will transform the complex at Bloor St. and Avenue Rd./Queen's Park into a 21st-century architectural landmark.
Though his submission leaves the Queen's Park facade untouched, the rest of the facility will be completely and startlingly changed. Most startling of all will be the Bloor front, which will resemble an explosion of glass.
Huge crystalline shapes will protrude in every direction from the museum. Large enough for visitors to walk through, these angular forms are meant to be hard, if not impossible, to ignore.
Not everyone will appreciate Libeskind's in-your-face approach to architecture, but few will be indifferent to it. His first and best-known project, the Jewish Museum in Berlin, opened two years ago without exhibits. Even empty, it managed to attract crowds.
Libeskind's Toronto proposal, which he calls The Crystal, may be less confrontational than the Jewish Museum, but it could be just as controversial. Nothing like this has ever been seen in Toronto.
But if the level of public interest is any indication, Libeskind's scheme is already a huge hit. Last week, more than 1,500 people showed up to hear his presentation at the ROM. The enormous response to his submission indicates just how primed the city is for a project as big, bold and brave as this.
Therein lies the secret of Libeskind's success; his understanding of what the project means to Toronto. For years the federal and provincial governments have neglected the city and it's showing. Many recognize Toronto is a city in serious decline, a city in need of a big gesture and an act of civic faith such as this.
Libeskind, a sculptor doubling as an architect, is aware of the medium's vast capacity to serve as a symbol. The old clich* that form follows function couldn't be more wrong; form follows fantasy, it is a dream about what can be achieved.
But Libeskind is also practical; his proposal will add 40,000 square feet of space to the museum. This translates into six new galleries, which means more of the ROM's vast collection can be displayed. If all goes according to plan, construction will start in the spring of 2003 and be completed two years later. ROM officials say that the museum will remain open, at least partially, during construction.
"The overwhelming public reaction to our competition speaks volumes about Toronto's appetite for change," argues ROM president and CEO William Thorsell. "When you're dealing with a public institution like this, you've got to make it a public process. People in the city have a great interest in the city."
One of the things people are also talking about is who will pay the price. The remake is budgeted at $200 million, much of that expected to come from Ottawa and Queen's Park.
Though neither level of government has committed itself specifically to the ROM, both have made encouraging noises. Federal Transport Minister David Collenette told The Star last week that the cabinet has approved $260 million for Toronto, $120 million of that for cultural projects.
Ontario Culture Minister Tim Hudak, who made the announcement yesterday, sounded positive. His mere presence indicates the province is getting ready to ante up its share of the ROM's $50 million request. "The government has made a decision," Hudak said. "The Premier and I will be making an announcement in the next few weeks."
Insiders now say that Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Premier Mike Harris will get together in Toronto within 10 days to hand out the cash.
The ROM is one of many cultural organizations applying for funding under the SuperBuild program, however. Others include the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Conservatory of Music, the Canadian Opera Company and the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art.
Sources say the museum will receive at least $35 million of its $50 million request, with the rest to follow in two years.
The ROM wasn't built in a day, but it changed in an afternoon
====================
If anyone's interested, I have photos of the models of all three finalists.
cheers,
tommysmalls.com
Personally, I think he won based on his name alone - his presentation wasn't nearly as thorough and detailed as the one made by Canadian, Bing Thom. I bet if Gehry would have designed a giant cardboard box for his proposal, he would have one.
>>> From Torstar.com <<<<<
CRYSTAL GAZING: Daniel Libeskind's model, called the Crystal, would transform the ROM — and reveal it — through a series of glazed extensions that shoot out from existing buildings at all angles.
Yesterday's announcement that Berlin-based architect Daniel Libeskind has been chosen to redesign the ROM means the country's largest museum will soon become its most dynamic.
Libeskind beat out more than 50 architects from around the world with a striking proposal that will transform the complex at Bloor St. and Avenue Rd./Queen's Park into a 21st-century architectural landmark.
Though his submission leaves the Queen's Park facade untouched, the rest of the facility will be completely and startlingly changed. Most startling of all will be the Bloor front, which will resemble an explosion of glass.
Huge crystalline shapes will protrude in every direction from the museum. Large enough for visitors to walk through, these angular forms are meant to be hard, if not impossible, to ignore.
Not everyone will appreciate Libeskind's in-your-face approach to architecture, but few will be indifferent to it. His first and best-known project, the Jewish Museum in Berlin, opened two years ago without exhibits. Even empty, it managed to attract crowds.
Libeskind's Toronto proposal, which he calls The Crystal, may be less confrontational than the Jewish Museum, but it could be just as controversial. Nothing like this has ever been seen in Toronto.
But if the level of public interest is any indication, Libeskind's scheme is already a huge hit. Last week, more than 1,500 people showed up to hear his presentation at the ROM. The enormous response to his submission indicates just how primed the city is for a project as big, bold and brave as this.
Therein lies the secret of Libeskind's success; his understanding of what the project means to Toronto. For years the federal and provincial governments have neglected the city and it's showing. Many recognize Toronto is a city in serious decline, a city in need of a big gesture and an act of civic faith such as this.
Libeskind, a sculptor doubling as an architect, is aware of the medium's vast capacity to serve as a symbol. The old clich* that form follows function couldn't be more wrong; form follows fantasy, it is a dream about what can be achieved.
But Libeskind is also practical; his proposal will add 40,000 square feet of space to the museum. This translates into six new galleries, which means more of the ROM's vast collection can be displayed. If all goes according to plan, construction will start in the spring of 2003 and be completed two years later. ROM officials say that the museum will remain open, at least partially, during construction.
"The overwhelming public reaction to our competition speaks volumes about Toronto's appetite for change," argues ROM president and CEO William Thorsell. "When you're dealing with a public institution like this, you've got to make it a public process. People in the city have a great interest in the city."
One of the things people are also talking about is who will pay the price. The remake is budgeted at $200 million, much of that expected to come from Ottawa and Queen's Park.
Though neither level of government has committed itself specifically to the ROM, both have made encouraging noises. Federal Transport Minister David Collenette told The Star last week that the cabinet has approved $260 million for Toronto, $120 million of that for cultural projects.
Ontario Culture Minister Tim Hudak, who made the announcement yesterday, sounded positive. His mere presence indicates the province is getting ready to ante up its share of the ROM's $50 million request. "The government has made a decision," Hudak said. "The Premier and I will be making an announcement in the next few weeks."
Insiders now say that Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Premier Mike Harris will get together in Toronto within 10 days to hand out the cash.
The ROM is one of many cultural organizations applying for funding under the SuperBuild program, however. Others include the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Conservatory of Music, the Canadian Opera Company and the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art.
Sources say the museum will receive at least $35 million of its $50 million request, with the rest to follow in two years.
The ROM wasn't built in a day, but it changed in an afternoon
====================
If anyone's interested, I have photos of the models of all three finalists.
cheers,
tommysmalls.com
all this talk heightens my anticipation to hear if i've been accepted into UofT's masters of architecture program.