gallopout: Proposal for New LACMA: sci-fi malibu tiles architecture

LACMA is interested in rethinking its campus and is open to new ideas. So, I was thinking about what I would like to see there.

They want to leave their Broad & Resnick buildings in tact - so the West Campus is off the table. Except for the May Company - the interior anyway.

The Japanese Pavilion in the Northeast corner is also hands off.

I really have grown to love the Pereira buildings having become a big fan of his work after touring the first floor of his former home on Rossmore which was so beautiful, modern, livable and very fun and inviting.

Pereira's design in his Transamerica building in San Francisco, for example is called modern science fiction architecture.

So, I want to keep his three buildings in tact as well as the reflection pond on the Southeast corner which is the home of a terrific Calder sculpture. And I must mention how much I love the Bing Theatre.

So those areas, I would clean up and shine them up to express the joy of those spaces. They may need interior reconfiguring of exhibition space and most certainly of administrative and all behind the scenes spaces.

Then, I would tear down the Art of the Americas building which was built in the 80s and is misguided in its exterior sand colored stone and dark green ugly tiles and that unfortunate overuse of glass block. The interior exhibition areas are maze like and the audience inevitably ends up having to back track to get out of spaces and into others and there are odd gaps of hard to use space as well. So that building would come down.

In its place, I would like to see a building that takes the function of the spaces as its first priority. Configuring the exhibition spaces and any offices in accordance with the desires of the curators and administrative staff.

The exterior and the common areas should use malibu tiles and/or heath tiles. And can you use stucco? Is that impractical? In a color that is harmonious with the Pereira buildings - a creamy eggshell color.

Perhaps have the wall facing Wilshire, or the wall facing either North or West to be completely covered with tile. Lots and lots of tile. The floor of the common areas could also be tile.

Influenced by case study homes, Lautner, Schindler, walls of glass with a beautiful view of city lights on the top floor.

Visitors always gasp when they reach the outdoor balcony on the 3rd floor of the Broad at LACMA. They look North to see one of the most incredible views of the Hollywood Hills in the entire city.

Use whatever materials are found in California & ideally in Southern California. I like the idea of limestone in lieu of stucco, too, as it has impressions of shells and sea life which gives a nod to the La Brea tar pits investigation of physcial science.