Yale School of Architecture - Paul Rudolph 1963Anyway, when I studied architecture at Yale there was a piece of empty land next to the school, and we heard that the new Yale History of Art Building will evantually occupy that spot.
Now after some 6 years the new building designed by New York based architect Gwathmey Siegel is almost complete, and I have to say I am left slightly disappointed.
Yale History of Art Building - Gwathmey Siegel
Yale History of Art Building - On site 2008In simple language I would say it looks mediocre. But in architecture we were taught not to use such simple and plain terms. So, in more elaborated architectural language I would say that it has diluted the powerful vertical and horizontal volumes and textures created by the Yale School of Architecture by adding a number of seemingly random, bitty shapes to the composition. Oh, and howcome the cladding materials look so random? One should perhaps either compliment the fair-faced concrete or contrast it, rather than cladding the new building in a mishmash of material.
The worst thing is that this new building sits next to the architecture school, where people spend years to talk and learn about beauty, proportion, material, details, forms and spaces. And I am sorry to say that the new building is looking a bit cheap.
Oh I actually design the new History of Art Building on the same site as a studio project. More explanations are available upon request but the keywords are Concrete vs Scaffolding, Permanent vs Temporary, Heavy vs Light, Brutal vs Smooth.
Yale History of Art Building - Axonometric 2003
Yale History of Art Building - Perspective 2003
6 comments:
I don't understand. Are they making you design a building to replace the slightly disappointing one ?
No. The new building is now complete and it will be there for many years to come. People I know (old classmates, teachers etc) from the architecture school are not particularly happy with the design though, so we all designed the building as a school project to throw some idea into this discourse :)
Haha! I wonder why Yale did not select some student projects for the new building. They don't know how to tap on their own bred talents yet. Too bad!
you could post ur design on the alumni web & ask for a vote - see what would happen~
Hi
I am an architecture student from Australia and my class is doing a project on Yale university. I have noticed that you have a great 3d model of the old wing and I was wondering if there was any chance that you could help our class out and send us the model? it would be a massive help. My email is tripledrej@hotmail.com
Thankyou
hihi,
I am an architecture student too. I am doing a research project about the old building. I am trying to undertsand the old building but could not find too much info about it. I am womdering if you can send the 3d model to me or different elevatins to me? my email is angelinelu429@hotmail.com
thank you so much!
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