What makes this museum addition an instant icon for the city of Milwaukee? Yes, there is the striking look of the building and its lakefront setting. But also, this structure, through no small feat of engineering, actually moves—its wing-like roof opening and closing daily.
I am a storyteller. Whether music, painting, writing, or architecture, the creative act is one of communication—the sharing of ideas. And not necessarily mine.
Considered one of the most iconic houses of Modernism, a masterpiece of the International Style, the Farnsworth House is near perfect. And the imperfections make it more thought-provoking. Finished in 1951, the design from Ludwig Mies van der Rohe has been revered for all its ambition: minimalism and glass walls, connection to nature, groundbreaking engineering, painstaking attention to detail and craft, and of course, “less is more.”
In the next few years, half a dozen projects are arriving to Los Angeles. And they are big. I mean BIG. Architecturally speaking, Los Angeles is young and scrappy, compared to New York’s glamour, Chicago’s urbanity, San Francisco’s charm, or D.C.’s history. But Los Angeles has not fallen short with architectural wonders.
A few years ago, I listed some of my favorite buildings in the city of Los Angeles. Today, I offer another dozen favorites from Southern California, but outside of Los Angeles proper.
As an architect, are you successful? How should we measure success?
