26 May 09: Barnes Dancing



These four unceremonious yet mysterious squares just might pull back the curtain a little on what is otherwise the most guarded secret of Philly Skyline relevance in Philly Skyline's existence. Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects (TWTBA) and landscape architects The Olin Partnership apparently swore to an oath of secrecy when they won the Barnes Foundation's design competition for their move to the Ben Franklin Parkway, because there ain't nothin' out there about its design yet.

The tea party held at the site of the then-still-standing Youth Study Center in October (16 October 08: The Phillies win the pennant) didn't even reveal so much as a massing study. Instead, the "ribbon" banners that weave between the grove of london plane trees were unveiled, a ceremonial "first explosion" was ignited to mark the beginning of the YSC's demolition, and a confirmation was offered that the 2011 target date for opening would be met. It was announced then that the design of the new Barnes would be brought to light in "spring/summer 2009".

One day after Memorial Day, it is now officially spring/summer 2009. The YSC is no longer around, and there are now these four squares in its place.

That the move appears to be this much closer makes it no less contentious. The Delaware River Port Authority just last week entertained a hearing from the Friends of the Barnes, who was asking DRPA to rescind the $500K of their (DRPA's) contribution to the move from their economic development fund. The Friends' ultimate goal is of course to block the move from Merion to the Parkway, to preserve the will that Albert Barnes left and which was broken in December 2004, when Montgomery County Orphans Court Judge Stanley Ott okayed the relocation the Foundation was seeking. This time last year, Ott declined the move to reopen the case. (CultureGrrl.)

This time this year, the Barnes art collection is still out in Merion, in the Paul Cret designed main building which sits amidst the garden and arboretum which the Foundation's first Director of Education in 1925 called "a genuine part of the educational work of this Foundation". Whether Cret's building will be replicated on the Parkway is unknown -- or at least un-public. It's also highly unlikely. Calls to the respective contacts at the Barnes Foundation and TWTBA were not returned by this posting, and a call to Olin revealed nothing other than that the design would be released "late this summer". Both TWTBA's web site and Olin's web site utilize the Flash navigation that is so maddeningly popular with architecture firms, and searching both for "barnes" returns zero results. (Same goes for the web site of Ballinger, the Philly-based associate architect on the project.)

So here in spring/summer 2009, the ship's still tight; there are as yet no leaks. However, if we want to take some guesses and float some rumors, we'll start with a close-up inspection of these squares. Click to enlarge:



These four squares were installed some time in the last week or so. They're wrapped in plastic and canvas, but not so tightly that the sun and wind didn't peel them back a little. Beneath the plastic and canvas are squares about 6' x 6', each of a different stone. Based on other recent major construction sites in town, it would seem that these are test installations to see how the different stone façades will appear under the sun, shade and weather.

As for rumors, I've heard tell that a good number of the london plane trees will be removed and that the new building (which will include new education/classroom space that the current Barnes does not have, in addition to the art collection arrangement, which will be replicated) will be a multifaceted glass box of sorts, extending right up to the Parkway. Williams and Tsien's use of exquisite materials -- zinc and fired brick at Penn's Skirkanich Hall and their award winning American Folk Art Museum, for example -- suggests the new Barnes will be far more than just another glass box, though. Another sensible rumor indicates it will have a green roof.

Just rumors for now -- guess we'll find out if there's any truth to them later this summer . . . (?)



–B Love





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