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Barnes design–We love it!
October 7, 2009 · 4 Comments
It’s no news that we on artblog are for the move of the Barnes to the Parkway. We’re excited about the new design and can barely contain ourselves…even though it does look a little like the Youth Study Center (just kidding). It looks a little like the Paul Phillipe Cret Barnes building in Merion, too. So stop whining everybody…neighbors and Robert Venturi alike. Here is architecture critic Inga Saffron’s review of the building in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer. Lots of video and pictures and links at this site too. Check out the full press release and copious images at the Barnes website.
Rendering of Public Arbor and Fountain Plaza. Picture from the Barnes website.
Readers Comments (4)
You think they paid my good money for this Barnes design? Do you think they can get it back? Looks like lots of nooks and crannies for muggings, sexual assaults & homeless loitering. Another Tour de Force from Philly’s cultural elite, eh? Only $137million in taxpayer money while poor philly families go without heating assistance because they need to cut something out of the State Budget. You people are absolutely out of touch – The Youth Center Looked better and at least you could see the homeless, now there’s lots of places to hide.
Hi Walter, To equate the problem of homelessness with the taxpayer money going to the Barnes is too simple. Homelessness is a huge societal problem caused by many things, including society’s lack of vision and will to deal with the problem. Taxpayer dollars going to the Barnes move is a discrete choice by the governor and state legislature to save a state treasure. If you want to blame taxpayer money going elsewhere for homelessness, how about let’s talk about the subsidies for the casinos and for the sports arenas.
waste of money. should stay were it was intended!!
The Barnes In Merion is a State and National Treasure so, if tax dollars are going to be used, they should clearly be used to preserve The Barnes in Merion. What is shocking is that we are using tax dollars to uproot and bastardize a National Treasure by creating this monstrosity on The Parkway. I hope that there is a full investigation of the manner in which public funds were obtained for this culturally disgraceful project. Rendell gives $30mn to The Move Project instead of giving it to PRESERVE THE BARNES IN MERION? WHO GETS TO DECIDE? $30 Million WOULD HAVE KEPT IT IN MERION. All thistook place while Rendell was getting a paycheck from Comcast (who is backing the Move) and while Aileen Roberts of the Comcast Roberts Family is the Chair of The Barnes Building Committee. Then, Fumo, an influence Peddling jailbird comes up with the other $107 Million in PA TAXDOLLARS – Shouldn’t the World view the new Barnes as a Disgrace to our National Cultural Traditions and a monument to Fumo and his Corruption? How can the World see it in any other way? What a lousy design – looks worse than the youth center.