Museum of Fine Arts Houston Expansion

[H-Town Man 5008]

1 hour ago, jmitch94 said:

 

 

I often take dates up there and it always amazes them with the views. Great pace to talk and stare off into the distance.  Funny story I once took a date there after going to a wine bar but didn't realize that you cant walk up there after a certain hour so I tried to bribe the guard but he stayed true to his mission. She liked the gesture. 

 

"Oh yeah? Closed, you say? Well... let's see if Abe Lincoln makes you say otherwise!" (side wink at girlfriend)

 

"Umm, sorry, the roof really is closed."

 

[bobruss 4988]

I know some were upset with the scale of the tubes compared to what they had seen in the model, but I was looking at the model and those tubes in scale are just about exactly the same as the ones in real life. I also think that once the whole building is clad and you have floor to rooftop tubes they won't look so wide. I know through experience that anytime you look at something that is unfinished, it many times looks wrong or you don't get the effect that was intended until it's finished. If that makes sense.

[Luminare 6046]

33 minutes ago, bobruss said:

I know some were upset with the scale of the tubes compared to what they had seen in the model, but I was looking at the model and those tubes in scale are just about exactly the same as the ones in real life. I also think that once the whole building is clad and you have floor to rooftop tubes they won't look so wide. I know through experience that anytime you look at something that is unfinished, it many times looks wrong or you don't get the effect that was intended until it's finished. If that makes sense.

 

Typical with anything design wise. The whole process one continuously doubts oneself until it all suddenly clicks and comes together. Every render/visualization I ever construct for a building is exactly this. Somehow it just comes together at a point. I'm still trying to figure it all out. Its a headache yet beautiful process.

[hindesky 46826]

[Luminare 6046]

34 minutes ago, hindesky said:

 

Oddly enough. Its almost as if this is a reflection of the previous Glassell School with its all glass block facade.

[DarklyMoron 221]

While obviously different materials, I'm seeing a kindred spirit in CAMH's cladding.

[H-Town Man 5008]

31 minutes ago, DarklyMoron said:

While obviously different materials, I'm seeing a kindred spirit in CAMH's cladding.

 

Yeah, it also reminds me of the metal-sided townhomes in 4th Ward and elsewhere. I'm trying to withhold judgment on this. I am a person who likes permanent materials, like stone. I know, I know, stone isn't permanent.

 

[bobruss 4988]

I'm not sure if anyone has posted this before but if they have I apologize. 

This is a link to the MFAH new campus. It's an overview of the project and I found it informative and fun to watch.

I hope you enjoy.

https://www.mfah.org/blogs/futuremfah/watch-a-glimpse-of-the-futuremfah

Edited July 27, 2019 by bobruss

[hindesky 46826]

From Reddit,  u/butterbuns_megatron wrongly said this was a view of downtown Houston. I corrected him/her.

 

[danielsonr 389]

Interesting perspective. I assume this is from the scaffolding on St. Paul's bell tower?

[bobruss 4988]

 Are they repointing the stone at St Pauls?

[MarathonMan 1159]

1 hour ago, danielsonr said:

Interesting perspective. I assume this is from the scaffolding on St. Paul's bell tower?

I think this is the scaffolding on the MFAH site.  Northeast corner along Main St.

[hindesky 46826]

Light diffusing panels going up on the Main St. side only.

 

[hindesky 46826]

 

 

Looks like pieces of granite/marble.

 

[hindesky 46826]

Slowly wrapping around the building. Now working on the north side in the first pic.

 

 

 

[hindesky 46826]

North side.

[hindesky 46826]

Tower crane on Main St is coming down right now.

https://www.mfah.org/about/campus-redevelopment/

[Sunstar 608]

I can’t wait to see this sucker lit up. It’s going to look great!

[hindesky 46826]

According to a McCarthy worker I talked to during the tower crane removal, the other cranes will come down toward the end of the year and beginning of next year. McCarthy will finish around October 2020 and turn it over to the museum. He showed me a couple of pics of a test lighting of the glass panels. There won't be lights behind every single panel but just portions of them. For those worried about colored lights he said they would only be white lights, no gimmicky colored lights since it's a classy museum not a circus.

[Naviguessor 2185]

Can we not have this conversation again, y’all? 

[Luminare 6046]

1 hour ago, Naviguessor said:

Can we not have this conversation again, y’all? 

 

I second this motion.

[X.R. 1123]

 

 

October 2020 is pretty far out, and a little disappointing to be honest. Its been fairly dry the last couple of months, so I thought they would be flying through that building. I assume that they are doing all of the landscaping and gardens for the museum too because there's no way just that building alone needs 1 year and a month to be completed.

[jmitch94 2033]

14 hours ago, X.R. said:

 

 

October 2020 is pretty far out, and a little disappointing to be honest. Its been fairly dry the last couple of months, so I thought they would be flying through that building. I assume that they are doing all of the landscaping and gardens for the museum too because there's no way just that building alone needs 1 year and a month to be completed.

 

The finishes on a building like this take a long time because they have to be perfect. That's why homes and apartments have textured walls and ceilings to cover up shoddy craftsmanship where as a building like this would not be okay with that. Plus I drove by last night and yeah I can totally see why I will be over a year to completion. The interior is still just exposed beams.  

[Luminare 6046]

4 minutes ago, jmitch94 said:

 

The finishes on a building like this take a long time because they have to be perfect. That's why homes and apartments have textured walls and ceilings to cover up shoddy craftsmanship where as a building like this would not be okay with that. Plus I drove by last night and yeah I can totally see why I will be over a year to completion. The interior is still just exposed beams.  

 

Wait are we talking about the museum or the garage at Lyric?

 

If you mean the Museum...yeah its going to take a long time. One, its Steven Holl. Two, its a museum. Three, its going to be the crown jewel for this district. They can take as long as they need to get it right.

[jmitch94 2033]

2 minutes ago, Luminare said:

 

Wait are we talking about the museum or the garage at Lyric?

 

If you mean the Museum...yeah its going to take a long time. One, its Steven Holl. Two, its a museum. Three, its going to be the crown jewel for this district. They can take as long as they need to get it right.

 

I'm referring to the building that this thread is dedicated to. You are absolutely right, this needs to be done right and will be one of Houston's signature buildings. 

[bobruss 4988]

If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing slowly ... very slowly.

Gypsy Rose Lee

[H-Town Man 5008]

14 hours ago, X.R. said:

 

 

October 2020 is pretty far out, and a little disappointing to be honest. Its been fairly dry the last couple of months, so I thought they would be flying through that building. I assume that they are doing all of the landscaping and gardens for the museum too because there's no way just that building alone needs 1 year and a month to be completed.

 

Also, if they are just giving it to MFAH in October 2020, it will probably be a few more months before the museum is open. We're probably looking at 2021.

 

[bobruss 4988]

It takes a while just to get the climate right inside to receive artwork and the installation process will probably take months.

They're moving very valuable works of art so it won't be three brothers movers.

[hindesky 46826]

5 hours ago, H-Town Man said:

 

Also, if they are just giving it to MFAH in October 2020, it will probably be a few more months before the museum is open. We're probably looking at 2021.

 

That is exactly what the worker told me, they turn it over but the museum has to do their part before it will open. I asked if he knew the opening date and was told, no. Why rush perfection.

[DarklyMoron 221]

According to the Chronicle story back in July, the opening will be “late 2020.” That should mean open to the public. 

[Urbannizer 44136]

16 hours ago, Luminare said:

 

I second this motion.

 

Motion carries. Comments removed.

[Sunstar 608]

On 9/17/2019 at 1:15 AM, Urbannizer said:

 

Motion carries. Comments removed.

 

Oh nuts, I missed them! 😃

[bobruss 4988]

Rajnar Jartansson's The Visitor, is going away after this weekend and I highly recommend it if you like music and video. Its a beautifully presented work that you should take the time to see.

If you do like music, the director of the Glassel school and well known sculptor Joseph Havel, along with sculptor Steve Murphy, and I, Tin Night, will be performing in the arts district this Friday night at the Patio at the Pit Room from 8:00-11:00.. I hope that some of you will come out and hear our unique sound, and get there early and enjoy some of the incredible barbecue.

Hope to see some of you.

[clutchcity94 385]

8 minutes ago, bobruss said:

Rajnar Jartansson's The Visitor, is going away after this weekend and I highly recommend it if you like music and video. Its a beautifully presented work that you should take the time to see.

If you do like music, the director of the Glassel school and well known sculptor Joseph Havel, along with sculptor Steve Murphy, and I, Tin Night, will be performing in the arts district this Friday night at the Patio at the Pit Room from 8:00-11:00.. I hope that some of you will come out and hear our unique sound, and get there early and enjoy some of the incredible barbecue.

Hope to see some of you.

 

Sounds cool! Anywhere I can hear yalls music online?

[DarklyMoron 221]

The British paper The Guardian just named Jartansson's The Visitor the best visual artwork of the 21st century. A bit silly, sure. But it is an amazing experience. Just give yourself enough time to really experience the ebbs and flows. 

 https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/sep/17/the-best-visual-art-of-the-21st-century

[bobruss 4988]

On 9/18/2019 at 11:41 AM, clutchcity94 said:

 

Sounds cool! Anywhere I can hear yalls music online?

Not yet but we're working on it. You should drop by tonight and listen to us live.

[bobruss 4988]

Got the opportunity to meet hindesky last night at The Patio.  I now have had the opportunity to have face to face visits with both he and ekdrm2d1.

Two of our more prolific photo journalist. Thanks for coming by to hear us last night.

[hindesky 46826]

[rechlin 2994]

From last week:

 

 

Edited October 3, 2019 by rechlin

[hindesky 46826]

Moving the Klimer.

[hindesky 46826]

[slcowart416 79]

Are these panels made of glass or plastic?  I'm concerned that if they are plastic / resin type material, they will "yellow" over time and thus become ugly.

[hindesky 46826]

2 hours ago, slcowart416 said:

Are these panels made of glass or plastic?  I'm concerned that if they are plastic / resin type material, they will "yellow" over time and thus become ugly.

A McCarthy worker told me they were glass, my concern would be vandals.

[Urbannizer 44136]

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Kinder Building construction by bill barfield, on Flickr

[Urbannizer 44136]

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/arts-theater/article/when-does-the-new-mfah-kinder-building-open-14814071.php#photo-18567502

 

Forklifts beep non-stop, power tools whir, generators hum and hammers pound inside the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s newest building-to-be, echoing through the concrete walls with a sense of urgency.

 

There’s no time to waste. Museum director Gary Tinterow announced Wednesday that the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building will open to the public next fall.

[corbs315 515]

Yeah, the museum sent an email yesterday:

 

JUST ANNOUNCED The Susan and Fayez S. Sarofim Campus will be completed in fall 2020 with the opening of the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building Gary Tinterow, Director and Margaret Alkek Williams Chair, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, today announced that the institution’s multi-year project to expand and redevelop its Susan and Fayez S. Sarofim Campus will be completed in fall 2020 with the opening of the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building. With more than 100,000 square feet of space, or 56 percent, dedicated to the presentation of works of art, the Kinder Building increases overall MFAH exhibition space by nearly 75 percent.  A series of major site-specific commissioned artworks will be inaugurated with the Kinder Building, serving as portals that connect this new structure with the other components of the campus. Commissioned artists are El Anatsui, Byung Hoon Choi, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Olafur Eliasson, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Cristina Iglesias, and Ai Weiwei.

[X.R. 1123]

I drive by this, and the Ion building, every day. Both have hit the overdrive button on working, 15+ people on site every morning doing various things when previously you would go a few days with very minimal movement on the site. The glass tube wrapping seems to now only have one large side and one tiny side left, when like in early September they had only done one side.

 

Probably good for the construction guys and gals, Christmas is coming and overtime sounds pretty good right now.

[Urbannizer 44136]

http://www.allusanewshub.com/2019/11/07/steven-holl-designed-kinder-building-nears-completion-at-the-museum-fine-arts-houston/

 

 

 

 

 

[Avossos 2286]

is this building... brutalist?

 

😲

[MarathonMan 1159]

9 hours ago, Avossos said:

is this building... brutalist?

 

😲

I  don’t think the Kinder building is brutalist.  Whatever the style, though, I have to say that the overall aesthetic falls flat for me.  The tubes on the outside are not very striking (hopefully they’ll be lit well at night — the evening photos above offer SOME hope) and the most interesting lines are the curved contours on the roof, which you can’t see.  🤷🏻‍♂️  I think the new Denver Art Museum is a lot more bold.
 

IMHO the Glassell topples the Kinder Building aesthetically.