Have you seen the renderings of the new Petersen Automotive Museum? it’s like a 1950s hot rod, red flames painted across its body, was caught mid-acceleration – right there on the corner of Fairfax and Wilshire.
The current building will be reconfigured and swaddled in beams, from which a new facade of aluminum and stainless steel will be mounted. The museum describes it on their website:
The new design was discussed on air Friday morning on KPCC with the museum’s Executive Director Terry Kargas and A. Eugene Kohn, Chairman of Kohn Pederson Fox Associates, lead architectural firm for the Petersen redesign. The museum will be raising some $40 million to revamp the building, but will not utilize funds from the controversial sale of some of its automotive collection – those monies will go toward additional galleries and new cars for exhibition.
Relevant to residents of the area: the matte finish on the stainless steel is expected to sparkle, but not produce glare for people living and working nearby, similar to problems Disney Hall downtown encountered in its earliest incarnation. There will be a beautiful deck on the rooftop for parties and events. The museum will be closed only in sections during renovation, and the entire project is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2015.
Just seeing the design makes me want to get in a souped-up muscle car and burn some rubber. It’s an exciting time on Museum Mile.
Is this a car museum or an architectural zebra? It’s pathetic that they hired KPF and allowed them to put their interns on the project. This would design not pass muster at a first year architecture review.
Why do so few architects in L.A get it right? Another abomination that will look cheesy and date in … ten years ago.