Gehry Ousted as BAM Theater Architect

Frank Gehry won't be a part of the Theater for a New Audience project in the BAM Cultural District, although, reports the New York Times, he apparently didn't know it. His partner-in-design, Hugh Hardy, will be the sole architect from here on in, mainly, say the theater folks, because Gehry is just too busy. In fact, he might be so busy that he doesn't remember telling them he was too busy. Hardy certainly has his share of institutional projects on his resume, and Gehry says the project will be fine without him. Since the goal of the district is to "create much-needed affordable performance and rehearsal space, mixed-income housing, and new public open space," maybe removing Gehry's name, and fees, will help? For now, though Gehry's still listed on the TFANA Web site.
Gehry Out as Architect of Theater in Brooklyn [NY Times]

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Based on the DBPartnership BAM map it looks like this building is set back on the land with some open space in front of it.

http://www.dbpartnership.org/lookingahead/bamcd/

At the corner of lafayette and Flatbush next to the Mark Morris dance center seems to be a nearly completed public park/open space. It has a winding path that may wrap around what seems to be a fountain? Does any one know any more info?

In particular, I am interested in what the renderings of the Grand Plaza will look like.

Posted by: ReMiXxd at August 22, 2008 9:28 AM

It's Gehry.

Posted by: tinarina at August 22, 2008 9:38 AM

so was that It's Gehry as in damned with faint praise? Or It's Gehry! How can you even question this man's taste or ability?

Posted by: east river at August 22, 2008 9:57 AM

"he might be so busy that he doesn't remember telling them he was too busy"

Nice.

Posted by: DOW8000SP800 at August 22, 2008 10:07 AM

Gehry resigned from the project months ago. I bet the theater would have loved to have him continue with the design but he asked to leave due to other jobs. Must've had a senior moment when he talked to the reporter.

Posted by: rosettastone at August 22, 2008 10:33 AM

I am SOOOO bored with Gehry. Even though every one of his projects is different... they are also very much the same ol' same ol' each time. He has a great point-of-view, but it seems that 40% of the world is now Gehry.

Posted by: tybur6 at August 22, 2008 10:47 AM

For example... the photos at the bottom of the wikipedia article... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Gehry

Honestly, they all blur together. The Disney Concert Hall, the Bilbao Museum and the Seattle EMP might as well be the same buildings with a different color.

Posted by: tybur6 at August 22, 2008 10:51 AM

If I were on the board of a major cultural institution and selecting an architect, I would never choose somebody who has built or is building theaters and museums in every single city on the planet. Boring. Ubiquitous. Expected. There are so many other choices; he's hardly the only star architect in the world. Certainly not the best. I don't get the whole Gehry craze.

Posted by: traditionalmod at August 22, 2008 10:52 AM

If I were on that same board, I'd want an architect that had the best design, regardless of pedigree. Gehry is certainly capable of appalling crap(see AY),and his buildings notorious for being burdened with constant repairs and leaks. It's hard enough for cultural institutions to get enough money to build, in the first place, without allotting huge amounts of budget for unforseen repairs to some edgy, space age design for which the technology has not been perfected.

I love Bilbao, but it exists already. It's time for something else, and there are certainly architects, most of them not household names, that could do an impressive and cost conscious design.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at August 22, 2008 11:20 AM

Maybe Gehry is at the point in his life where he's resting on his laurels as it were. Or trying to keep his cutting edge reputation. One problem for cultural institutions is that once they raise the funds, a name architect provides cachet which augments their message. Sadly, as in Gehry's case, that cachet doesn't come without structural problems, leaks and inappropriate design decisions.

Forgetting he pulled out of the project- isn't that a major decision? If he was too busy to remember that, what else doesn't he bother to remember?

Posted by: bxgrl at August 22, 2008 11:33 AM

Hardy is hardly a slouch. He restored the New Amsterdam and Radio City Music Hall, and his many other credits in this realm include BAM Harvery and the New Victory. He's at the top of his profession.

Posted by: State Streeter at August 22, 2008 12:07 PM

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August 22, 2008

Gehry Ousted as BAM Theater Architect

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