There is nothing wrong with taking “modernist” approaches to the built environment and some of these efforts as sculpture and form can be and are stunning. Their very success at form may make them less successful as functioning buildings.

I mentioned art galleries which often are displaying orthogonal art - paintings. These often want spaces which do not compete visually, neither distract or alter the work of art. The Wright Guggenheim is a celebrated work of architecture, but not successful, in my opinion (and I am sure others) as a museum for displaying and viewing paintings. Simply hanging a flat painting on a curvilinear wall is “jarring” to the eye, let alone the problem of having a wall and ceiling frame it which are not level. The side galleries are “orthogonal” and work in the traditional manner.

The display of paintings is an example how what is touted as great architecture (for other reasons) can fail in some of its key mission. The Gugg is a wonderful fun space, but as a museum I much prefer the Whitney or the very traditional Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The new MOMA is also stunning and very well configured to display modern art in exciting spaces. It is a bit confusing to navigate, unlike the Gugg where you have but two choices - up the helix or down the helix.

Gehry is pushing boundaries of form, and he may have succeeded in a sculptural manner, but not entirely as an architect. My opinion.

nice pics! thanks!

1. “Madame Bovary,” Flaubert–a flabby blob?
2. “Rite of Spring,” Stravinsky–a loud blob?
3. Isadora Duncan’s solos–not an erotic enough blob?…
4. Divine Comedy, Dante
5. Chekhov’s short stories
6. “Ulysses,” James Joyce
7. The Iliad, Homer

Love your nom de plume–do you think you’re some kind of god?

i noticed the architecture too when i was walking to the music center. nice pictures. at 5:52 pm, i was just walking to my car driving home

good luck,
a fan of yours, always

But it’s a bummer that the outside of the building only really looks good from the Grand Avenue and 1st Street sides - I’m sure you noticed walking up from the South towards the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion that the administrative offices on the backside of the building make a giant biege wall with a few square windows on the surface. And the wall is built so high that you only see the peaks of the metal if you’re looking up at the building from the south. It’s such a jarring contrast to the free flowing metal everywhere else, an opportunity lost in my opinion.

Still, the auditorium is so great that the function overwhelms any shortcomings outside.

So nice that you all were here in this neck of the woods for half a week.