Daniel Libeskind, by happenstance or design, has practically become the official architect of Jewish museums worldwide, but that trajectory was near its beginning when he received the commission, in 1998, for San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM).
The building relies not only on the sharp-edged diagonals—sometimes a shortcut to dynamism and architectural self-assertion—that have been a mainstay in Libeskind’s work, but also on abundant calligraphic symbols, some more convincing than others.
Project Specs Contemporary Jewish Museum San Francisco, California Studio Daniel Libeskind << Return to article the People Architect Studio Daniel Libeskind 2 Rector Street 19th Floor NY, NY 10006 Carla Swickerath, Michael Brown, Joe Rom, Michael Vanreusel, Sascha Manteufel, Omar Toro Architect of record: WRNS Studios Associate Architect(s): Sam Nunes, Principal in Charge George Klumb, Project Architect David Shiwotsuka Donna Gold Roberts Henrike Yama Melinda Rosenberg Interior Designer: JoAnne Powell, In-Design Engineer(s): Structural: ARUP (San Francisco); OLMM Consulting Mechanical and Plumbing: Ajmani & Pamidi Electrical: Silverman & Light Consultant(s) Lighting: Auerbach Glasow French Acoustical: Shen Milsom Wilke IT: Telecom Design
Colliding tectonic plates, deep canyons, craggy overhangs, and other heroic topographic features are often evoked in the architecture of Morphosis, the Los Angeles-based firm. But the architects’ first project in China, Giant Group Pharmaceutical Campus, has allowed them to push that exploration even further, says Morphosis principal Thom Mayne. “In China, you can do things formally you just can’t do in the U.S.—aggressive, uncompromised, out-there ideas.” Image courtesy Morphosis The architects wanted to create a “lifted landscape” where the enormous building connects seamlessly with the 3.2-hectare site. Sited on 3.2 hectares in Shanghai’s western outskirts, Giant’s new corporate headquarters, slated
Project Specs 26th Street Housing Santa Monica, California Kanner Architects << Return to article the People Architect Kanner Architects 1558 Tenth Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Tel: 310-451-5400 Fax: 310451-5440 Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit Carol Templeton, AIA, LEED AP: Project Architect (registered architect) Ken Vermillion: Project Manager (not registered) John Mebasser: Senior Architect (registered architect) Architect of record: Stephen Kanner, FAIA Engineer(s): Structural and Civil: Reiss, Brown, Ekmekji M/E/P: Storms & Lowe Consultant(s) Landscape: Troller Meyer Assoc. Acoustical: Veneklasen Associates General contractor: Louis Laxineta, Alpha Construction Co. Photographer(s) John Linden, 818-888-8544 CAD system, project management,
We don’t have money for fancy materials, but abundant light and air, which can make a huge difference in your living environment, are free,” says Joan Ling, executive director of the Community Corporation of Santa Monica (CCSM).
Project Specs Congregation Beth Sholom Synagogue San Francisco, California Stanley Saitowitz/Natoma Architects << Return to article the People Architect Stanley Saitowitz / Natoma Architects 1022 Natoma Street #3 San Francisco, CA 94103 T: 415 626 8977 F: 415 626 8978 Project Team: Stanley Saitowitz, Neil Kaye, Markus Bischoff, John Winder, Derrick Chan. Engineer(s): Structural Engineers: Forell/Elsesser Engineers Inc. Mechanical Engineers: Rumsey Engineers Inc. Consultant(s) Landscape: Blasen Landscape Architecture Interior: Shelter Acoustical: Charles M Salter Associates Inc. General contractor: Overaa Construction Photographer(s) Rien van Rijthoven (415-810-0973) Bruce Damonte (415-845-6919) CAD system, project management, or other software used: autocad the Products
Whether the content of an exhibition is as ethereal as digital sound pieces or as concretely grounded as full-scale model houses, whether it draws on art, architecture, written documents, household objects, anthropological artifacts, or any other collection of information, the perennial conundrum is how to render the immaterial spatial—how to give the show’s concept impact and three-dimensional meaning for visitors moving through it. As artist Marcel Duchamp made abundantly clear when he signed a urinal for display in an art exhibition, the immediate surroundings can influence the perception, if not the experience, of the work presented. After all, even the