| TP21c Bold, Brave, and Bracing: Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art HSW 05/14/2008, 2:15 PM - 4:45 PM Learning Units: 2.00-Walking Tour Training Units: 0.50-Training Area 3 (Schematic Design) After 70 years at the leading edge of art in the city, the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) has opened a new, visionary building on the harbor at Fan Pier in South Boston. Designed by award-winning architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the building works both "from the sky down," as a contemplative space for experiencing contemporary art, and "from the ground up," providing dynamic areas for public enjoyment. The design weaves together interior and exterior space, producing shifting perspectives of the waterfront throughout the museum's galleries and public spaces. Come investigate this 62,000-square-foot building with its 18,000 square feet of galleries, a performing arts theater, a restaurant, a bookstore, education/workshop facilities, and more. Enjoy its stunning location on Boston Harbor. The Harborwalk metaphorically extends into the new building as a pliable wrapper, defining the ICA's major public spaces. The building literally folds up from the walkway into "grandstand" facing the water, and continues through the skin of the building to form a stage. The walk then turns up to form the theater seating, then seamlessly envelopes the theater space, ultimately, slipping out through the skin to produce the ceiling of the exterior public "room." Above the wrapper sits the "gallery box": a large exhibition space on one level that dramatically cantilevers over the Harborwalk toward the water. Learning Objectives:
Sponsored by Arup Core Discipline: Design |