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The new De Young museum is really something.
Not only is the art visually stimulating and mind bogglingly fascinating to consider its creation, but the building itself is a marvel.
Architecturally it is a delight, filled with suprises and unique windows and even specially selected slabs of landscape stone that look like space age gravel.
My sister explained the architects reasons behind his choices for the interesting copper exterior.
The architect's explanation on the De Young website: "The design of the new de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park embraces both
art and nature. The landscape is brought into the building through a
deep, penetrating exterior, the landscape court, while artwork is
brought outside of the building in the sculpture garden. The
interweaving of visitor, art, and landscape is reinforced on the ground
level through ample opportunity to enter the museum and interact with
the collection, and through the tower, a reference point linking Golden
Gate Park with the San Francisco community beyond."
Even better and more conceptually understandable:
"The living skin of the building," stated de Meuron, "was needed to
wrap and interweave nature into the architecture as alive as a forest
of trees." The image of a tree, as if looking up from underneath into a
sunlit tree canopy, was utilized. Many digitalized photographs of
different canopy images were used, flattening the images with
pixilation and translating it directly from computer images to the
physical reality of the copper panels. The relationships of
perforations and embossed sections within the 3600 copper panels create
shifting and unexpected forms in the changing light of the day. The
building will continually be transformed when aging slowly turns the
color of the copper to blue-green.
"We will see change for 20
years, while the landscape evolves to grow up and transform itself,"
landscaper Walter Hood added. "It is a gift of growth, an exciting
public space for kids and adults to all use."
Many aspects of the
building are one-of-a-kind. The dramatic shape of the elegant tower
completely destabilizes as one moves around it, looking firmly rooted
like a strong tree viewed one way, yet looking unstable and weak from
another angle. Unique and breathtaking views of San Francisco can be
enjoyed from inside; the twist of the tower was done to position its
relationship as to the layout of the city and many San Francisco
landmarks. And now, the tall tower itself has become a new landmark and
can be seen from hilltops in the city."
Anyways, all I have to say is that the De Young museum experience is fascinating, from the architecture to the top of the observation tower and the view from the park and to the amazing artifacts and artwork that trace the history of art and time.
I am so intrigued, I'd like to try and make it to a Friday Night Program, which is sure to be an event.
Friday Night Programs
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Friday Nights at the New de Young
The de Young stays open late until 8:45 p.m. every Friday night!
The
Education Department has created a schedule designed to enhance your
museum experience with live music, artist demonstrations, films, dance
performances, lectures, and tours. Interactive art projects focus on
the collections and special exhibitions. Enjoy an evening of dining in
the cafe, stroll through the Barbro Osher Sculpture Garden, and enjoy
the view from the tower.
Friday Nights at the New de Young are sponsored in part by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Friday Night Program Highlights
For detailed program information including lecture times, please consult the de Young's online event calendar
Everyone
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