Not spectacular, but smart
Here you’ll see Gehry’s only concession to showiness, in the form of a Piranesian switchback staircase leading to the basement level. Even that is outshone, though, by the splendid vaulted walkway leading off from it, decked out in Guastavino tile and re-emerging after decades as back of house. (For the moment nothing is down here except a couple of sculptures, a gift shop, and a little cafe; the macchiato was pretty good.)Jason Farago reviewed a renewed "Core Project" by Gehry Partners at the Philadelphia Museum. View of the Williams Forum from level one, looking west to Lenfest Hall - Steve Hall © Hall + Merrick Photographers, 2021. From the previously published article, "The Philadelphia Museum of Art unveils $233 million renovation by Frank Gehry"When the updates were first discussed, Orhan Ayyüce had suggested "If you want to get something really good from Gehry, ask him something with existing rules. He'll play with them like nobody can.
Here you’ll see Gehry’s only concession to showiness, in the form of a Piranesian switchback staircase leading to the basement level. Even that is outshone, though, by the splendid vaulted walkway leading off from it, decked out in Guastavino tile and re-emerging after decades as back of house. (For the moment nothing is down here except a couple of sculptures, a gift shop, and a little cafe; the macchiato was pretty good.)
Jason Farago reviewed a renewed "Core Project" by Gehry Partners at the Philadelphia Museum.
When the updates were first discussed, Orhan Ayyüce had suggested "If you want to get something really good from Gehry, ask him something with existing rules. He'll play with them like nobody can.
