briv
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Just realized that we didnt have a thread on the MFA expansion. We had before the board crashed, but..
Here's an excerpt from Foster's site describing the design:
Architecturally, the project echoes themes explored in the Reichstag and the Great Court at the British Museum, establishing a creative dialogue between the old and the new, and strengthening links with the local community by making the building more open and accessible. At the core of the scheme is the restoration of the symmetry and logic of the Museums original Beaux-Arts plan, devised in 1907 by the American architect Guy Lowell. Following Lowell's intentions, the central axis of the main building on Huntingdon Avenue is reasserted with the reintroduction of the main entrance to the south and the reopening of the north entrance, which is currently closed to visitors. At the heart of this axis is a new information centre, from where all visitors will begin their tour of the galleries. A glazed structure - a crystal spine - provides new accommodation and partly encloses the two grand courtyards at the centre of the Museum in a glass jewel box, creating valuable new space for visitor orientation, cafes, sculpture and special events.
For more infor check out foster's site or the projects's section on the MFA's site, where you can also watch a 5 minute video presentation that includes virtual walkthroughs:
http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Practice/Default.aspx
http://www.mfa.org/about/index.asp?key=54
Here's an excerpt from Foster's site describing the design:
Architecturally, the project echoes themes explored in the Reichstag and the Great Court at the British Museum, establishing a creative dialogue between the old and the new, and strengthening links with the local community by making the building more open and accessible. At the core of the scheme is the restoration of the symmetry and logic of the Museums original Beaux-Arts plan, devised in 1907 by the American architect Guy Lowell. Following Lowell's intentions, the central axis of the main building on Huntingdon Avenue is reasserted with the reintroduction of the main entrance to the south and the reopening of the north entrance, which is currently closed to visitors. At the heart of this axis is a new information centre, from where all visitors will begin their tour of the galleries. A glazed structure - a crystal spine - provides new accommodation and partly encloses the two grand courtyards at the centre of the Museum in a glass jewel box, creating valuable new space for visitor orientation, cafes, sculpture and special events.
For more infor check out foster's site or the projects's section on the MFA's site, where you can also watch a 5 minute video presentation that includes virtual walkthroughs:
http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Practice/Default.aspx
http://www.mfa.org/about/index.asp?key=54
