Museum of Fine Arts Houston Expansion

[Twinsanity02 1076]

I detect a chip on this Chicagoan shoulder.

 

Personally I love visiting Chicago. Nevertheless the fact is in the last seven years our MSA added 945,000 people and theirs 61,700. Huge numbers of people find us a much more attractive place to live. Maybe instead of childish put downs they should study why this is so. In the meantime they better get ready to be passed up.

Edited March 28, 2018 by Twinsanity02
error

[hindesky 30882]

Spotted the bean, already has lots of people taking photos.

[hindesky 30882]

From reddit

[mollusk 2086]

So what's in the bicycle tires to get you up that high? 

[hindesky 30882]

Working on Sunday on the steps. Is this still shooting for a May grand opening?

[Houston19514 3433]

7 hours ago, hindesky said:

Working on Sunday on the steps. Is this still shooting for a May grand opening?

 

Yes.  May 20

Edited April 23, 2018 by Houston19514

[Timoric 1461]

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Edited July 12, 2019 by Timoric

[Ric 0_0 4]

Wow! This expansion looks great. Next time I am in Houston I will have to check it out. All we are getting in Atlanta is ANOTHER aquarium expansion. 

[hindesky 30882]

[rechlin 2767]

Cloud Column is now accessible to the public:

 

[wilcal 894]

Glassell School of Art to open to public with a party on May 20 from noon to 4 pm.

 

http://glasstire.com/2018/05/09/new-glassell-school-of-art-to-open-with-a-big-party/

 

List of opening day activities: https://www.mfah.org/calendar/celebrating-community-opening-day/201805201200PM

 

Definitely going to make it down for this!

[LarryDierker 3327]

this thing looks like a "plug" I saw in a "art film" one time. can't wait to get my selfie.

Edited May 13, 2018 by LarryDierker

[hindesky 30882]

Talked with a guy and he said they were having the ribbon ceremony Monday and the Grand Opening is on for the 20th. Lots of workers working hard to get it ready.

 

[monarch 3066]

^^^ well done @hindesky

[Urbannizer 40765]

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2018/05/14/285327/glassell-school-of-arts-new-building-unveiled/

 

Walking in to the new Glassell School of Art building on the Museum of Fine Arts Houston campus, you are immediately faced with a giant, imposing staircase made of raw concrete, an expanse of open space, and natural light pouring into the building.

 

“People don’t take the elevator. They want to explore and the stairs are a dynamic experience,” said Chris McVoy, an architect who helped design the building. McVoy said the building is meant to connect everyone taking classes with the school in one place — from grade school kids to graduate students.

 

“There’s 35 studios total in this building but as you move through it it always feels open,” McVoy said. “The hope is an inspirational environment for young artists, future artists, developing artists, to think big, dream big, and be inspired.”

The “L”-shaped building defines a plaza with fountains, green space, an ampitheater, and a sitting area. Visitors to the school are also able to make space of green space on the roof of the building.

 

Classes in the new building begin this summer. Officials with the Museum of Fine Arts Houston say pre-enrollment with the Glassell School has gone up 40% with the building opening.

 

The building’s opening is the latest in a massive expansion effort by the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. The full expansion, including the Glassell School, the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building, and Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation Center for Conservation are expected to be completed in 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Luminare 4770]

https://www.archdaily.com/894488/glassell-school-of-art-steven-holl-architects

 

We made it onto ArchDaily this morning!

[bobruss 4723]

Looks amazing. I play music with Joseph Havel, whose the director of the school, and he invited us tonight. Can't wait!

[Triton 10542]

Private party from tonight (I always forget to post here so give me some credit lol)

 

MFAH Expansion Private Party by Marc longoria, on Flickr

 

MFAH Expansion Private Party by Marc longoria, on Flickr

[bobruss 4723]

Go see the new building. It's remarkable! The plaza is perfect. Once the  landscaping has time to take hold, it will soften the plaza, The building has such a powerful presence with its large angled concrete walls and glass in such a mesmerizing  pattern, kind of abstract sculpture. 

I really liked the repurposing of the glass blocks from the old Glassell school in a transition wall from the sculpture garden into the Plaza.

The Kapoor sculpture is perfect in the space, and the way it relates to the building,  and the water. The water feature is a pleasant break before entering an incredibly interesting interior space.

The natural lighting in this building is remarkable. All of the very clean studios have a wonderful luminescence emanating from the large windows sheathed in white. The main lobby and grand stairwell are almost overwhelming. Could be used as a great indoor amphitheater or concert space.  The second floor exhibition space is clean and hung with works being auctioned by CORE grads. It's a very nice selection. Rode the elevator to The Rooftop, and it's, well you just have to go up there. It's huge!. What a place for a party. The views of downtown and the med center are excellent and we had drinks on the roof. No waivers required.

We walked down the ramp roof, and it's covered in jasmine, with very easy steps and nice rails. Theres another outdoor amphitheater built into the ramp of wooden steps and use as seating.

The food and drinks were over the top. Wish I could share images. Don't miss it Sunday.

[Luminare 4770]

5 hours ago, bobruss said:

Go see the new building. It's remarkable! The plaza is perfect. Once the  landscaping has time to take hold, it will soften the plaza, The building has such a powerful presence with its large angled concrete walls and glass in such a mesmerizing  pattern, kind of abstract sculpture. 

I really liked the repurposing of the glass blocks from the old Glassell school in a transition wall from the sculpture garden into the Plaza.

The Kapoor sculpture is perfect in the space, and the way it relates to the building,  and the water. The water feature is a pleasant break before entering an incredibly interesting interior space.

The natural lighting in this building is remarkable. All of the very clean studios have a wonderful luminescence emanating from the large windows sheathed in white. The main lobby and grand stairwell are almost overwhelming. Could be used as a great indoor amphitheater or concert space.  The second floor exhibition space is clean and hung with works being auctioned by CORE grads. It's a very nice selection. Rode the elevator to The Rooftop, and it's, well you just have to go up there. It's huge!. What a place for a party. The views of downtown and the med center are excellent and we had drinks on the roof. No waivers required.

We walked down the ramp roof, and it's covered in jasmine, with very easy steps and nice rails. Theres another outdoor amphitheater built into the ramp of wooden steps and use as seating.

The food and drinks were over the top. Wish I could share images. Don't miss it Sunday.

 

Thats what I noticed about the building from these photos. it seems so abstract, yet it seems contextual when take into account its neighbor, the sculpture garden. Its as if the garden was a genesis for the building itself and informed the architecture. It definitely has a sculptural quality to it, yet from the plans i've seen it also seems well balanced with the practical needs of school. I will certainly be visiting this on Sunday!

[bobruss 4723]

4 hours ago, Luminare said:

 

Thats what I noticed about the building from these photos. it seems so abstract, yet it seems contextual when take into account its neighbor, the sculpture garden. Its as if the garden was a genesis for the building itself and informed the architecture. It definitely has a sculptural quality to it, yet from the plans i've seen it also seems well balanced with the practical needs of school. I will certainly be visiting this on Sunday!

Something I focused on last night while walking across the plaza is how related the Chillida sculpture, that was moved from the Mecom Fountain side of the original museum to front and center in the plaza. The sculpture and building play a magical game of mimicry with the angles and materials so closely in line with each other. There is a harmony that develops between the building and that sculpture. I don't know if it was intentional but I like it. 

[hindesky 30882]

From across the street.

[hindesky 30882]

Didn't realize till today that the bean had a concave side to it. They had the Grand Opening today.

 

Edited May 20, 2018 by hindesky

[Triton 10542]

The Glassell School of Art & The Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza by Marc longoria, on Flickr

 

Montrose Area by Marc longoria, on Flickr

 

The Glassell School of Art & The Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza by Marc longoria, on Flickr

 

Downtown Houston from The Glassell School of Art by Marc longoria, on Flickr

 

The Glassell School of Art & The Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza by Marc longoria, on Flickr

[gene 1926]

Wow how cool! Thanks for all the updates and photos! Cant wait to check it all out soon! 

[cloud713 3754]

On 5/20/2018 at 6:03 PM, hindesky said:

Didn't realize till today that the bean had a concave side to it. They had the Grand Opening today.

It took me a while to realize, but its actually completely hollow. I thought it was a shallow concave on the north side, but its totally open to the inside of cloud column.

[Urbannizer 40765]

Proposed restaurant for the MFAH

 

http://hsuoffice.com/project/museum-of-fine-arts-houston/

 

[ArchFan 282]

On 5/16/2018 at 7:58 PM, hindesky said:

I hope they will soon do some mildew remediation on this building. Houston seems to have particularly tough problem with this issue. 

 

 

[corbs315 438]

8 hours ago, Urbannizer said:

Proposed restaurant for the MFAH

 

http://hsuoffice.com/project/museum-of-fine-arts-houston/

 

Anthony Bourdain and a man with a bowler hat walk into a bar...

[H-Town Man 3958]

2 hours ago, corbs315 said:

Anthony Bourdain and a man with a bowler hat walk into a bar...

 

And a woman out of the Hunger Games...

 

[houstontexasjack 1890]

32 minutes ago, H-Town Man said:

 

And a woman out of the Hunger Games...

 

Let’s not forget the bartender from “The Shining.”

[Naviguessor 1873]

...or the decapitated white-washed horse carcus, which has been suspended from the ceiling.  This place looks a little Saks-Fancy for the Museum.  Definitely going for the "Ladies-who-Lunch" look.  But...maybe that's just the crowd that mfaH is reaching out to. 

[H-Town Man 3958]

1 hour ago, Naviguessor said:

...or the decapitated white-washed horse carcus, which has been suspended from the ceiling.  This place looks a little Saks-Fancy for the Museum.  Definitely going for the "Ladies-who-Lunch" look.  But...maybe that's just the crowd that mfaH is reaching out to. 

 

Yeah agreed, 99% of the artists whose work the museum shows would not have gone near this place. Conservative estimate.

 

[Naviguessor 1873]

The room has to be gorgeous.  But, it also has to be welcoming to people who will be attending the mhaH campus, IMO.  Even if it's an expensive place, you would want to feel welcome if you'd just spent 30 minutes hiking up and down the Glassell Schools Roof (all sweaty) and not just when your dressed in something flirty or in business casual, as a starting point.  Oh, and I think, just maybe, the room could focus on great art (certainly there is plenty of inspiration) and not on trendy brass accents.  Doesn't seem as though there would be room for art at all in this concept...unless that is what the horse chandelier, of course.  All just IMO. 

[Montrose1100 2959]

3 hours ago, Naviguessor said:

...or the decapitated white-washed horse carcus, which has been suspended from the ceiling.  This place looks a little Saks-Fancy for the Museum.  Definitely going for the "Ladies-who-Lunch" look.  But...maybe that's just the crowd that mfaH is reaching out to. 

It’s certainly an upgrade from the current IKEA cafeteria.

[Naviguessor 1873]

Montrose1100... Speaking of Saks-Fancy...how have you been? 

Agreed.   

[corbs315 438]

On 6/7/2018 at 7:08 AM, corbs315 said:

Anthony Bourdain and a man with a bowler hat walk into a bar...

 Well this comment didn't age well 

Edited June 8, 2018 by corbs315

[H-Town Man 3958]

48 minutes ago, corbs315 said:

 Well this comment didn't age well 

 

Whoa. You're right. R.I.P.

[Twinsanity02 1076]

Went here tonight with my family.  Reminds me somewhat ( without trying to overstate) of the Getty museum view. Very pleasant well designed area. I can't say enough positive things about it. 

[Triton 10542]

Gotta admit that popsicle guy really adds a lot here too, now that MFAH has allowed a permanent spot for his cart.

 

https://www.instagram.com/popstontx/?hl=en

 

 

[H-Town Man 3958]

Interesting - the popsicles can pass for art.

 

[mollusk 2086]

20 minutes ago, H-Town Man said:

Interesting - the popsicles can pass for art.

 

 

They are things of beauty to some.

[Timoric 1461]

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Edited July 12, 2019 by Timoric

[Timoric 1461]

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Edited July 12, 2019 by Timoric

[H-Town Man 3958]

3 hours ago, mollusk said:

 

They are things of beauty to some.

 

I find them impressive myself. Perhaps on par with some contemporary art.

 

[rechlin 2767]

A little hard to see in this photo, but they've gone above ground now with the rebar.  Also, in the background it seem they are assembling another crane, behind the church.  Is this related or another project?

 

https://i.imgur.com/PAotpAn.jpg

 

Sorry, you will have to click the link to see the photo.  HAIF no longer seems to allow embedding images for me, and I've tried multiple browsers and multiple computers so it seems something is broken on their site.

[ChannelTwoNews 2576]

1 hour ago, rechlin said:

A little hard to see in this photo, but they've gone above ground now with the rebar.  Also, in the background it seem they are assembling another crane, behind the church.  Is this related or another project?

 

https://i.imgur.com/PAotpAn.jpg

 

Sorry, you will have to click the link to see the photo.  HAIF no longer seems to allow embedding images for me, and I've tried multiple browsers and multiple computers so it seems something is broken on their site.

 

I think the other crane might be for the project in this thread...

 

http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/38814-first-presbyterian-church-early-childhood-school

 

Edited June 25, 2018 by ChannelTwoNews

[ekdrm2d1 16665]

Thrilling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ekdrm2d1 16665]

Post continued.

 

 

[ekdrm2d1 16665]

Forgot to post a cool photo: