Architecture! In Boston.
December 22, 2010 8:56 AM Subscribe
Architect friend is visiting Boston. What to do?
My architect friend is visiting Boston on Thursday afternoon and I am looking for things to do. He's been to the MFA (but not the new wing, which we might do) and has expressed interest in going to the ICA as well (which I know is free on Thursdays evenings). Also, we've both been to the Isabella Steward Gardner museum and the Mapparium. Another friend recommended this architecture-related gallery/exhibit:
http://www.pinkcomma.com/
Are there any other similar galleries or exhibits I should check out? Also, I think he's into new urbanism - any neighborhoods we should wander around as well? Note: we will have a car, but no resident sticker anywhere.
My architect friend is visiting Boston on Thursday afternoon and I am looking for things to do. He's been to the MFA (but not the new wing, which we might do) and has expressed interest in going to the ICA as well (which I know is free on Thursdays evenings). Also, we've both been to the Isabella Steward Gardner museum and the Mapparium. Another friend recommended this architecture-related gallery/exhibit:
http://www.pinkcomma.com/
Are there any other similar galleries or exhibits I should check out? Also, I think he's into new urbanism - any neighborhoods we should wander around as well? Note: we will have a car, but no resident sticker anywhere.
If you've been, you know that the ICA does not take a long time to get through. Oh, how I wish it were more, but it's small. The building is nice, though. Combine a trip there with a trip to Drink or Lucky's.
There a lot of mid-century modern homes in the burbs, including the Gropius House in Concord. I think they do tours. This guy has a site up.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 9:20 AM on December 22, 2010
There a lot of mid-century modern homes in the burbs, including the Gropius House in Concord. I think they do tours. This guy has a site up.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 9:20 AM on December 22, 2010
If it's not snowy, the DeCordova museum in Lincoln is awesome (it's a museum in an old mansion surrounded by a sculpture park). In winter, you used to be able to get onto the property to walk around the grounds without having to pay admission, but the museum inside generally has cool stuff. You could combine a trip there with a driving tour around Lincoln and Concord to see the fancy modern houses.
posted by oinopaponton at 9:35 AM on December 22, 2010
posted by oinopaponton at 9:35 AM on December 22, 2010
Stay away from Government Center at all costs.
posted by Aizkolari at 9:42 AM on December 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Aizkolari at 9:42 AM on December 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Go see:
The Carpenter Center- The only LeCorbusier building in America
Boston City Hall for some Brutalism
MIT's -Strata Center by Gehry
MIT's Simmons Hall
MIT's Baker House by Alvar Aalto
Trinity Church in Copley Square and both wings of the Boston Public ibrary. Heck while there see I.M. Pei's Hancock Tower
posted by Gungho at 9:42 AM on December 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Carpenter Center- The only LeCorbusier building in America
Boston City Hall for some Brutalism
MIT's -Strata Center by Gehry
MIT's Simmons Hall
MIT's Baker House by Alvar Aalto
Trinity Church in Copley Square and both wings of the Boston Public ibrary. Heck while there see I.M. Pei's Hancock Tower
posted by Gungho at 9:42 AM on December 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Stop by Government Center for the very finest in Brutalist architecture...
posted by maryr at 9:44 AM on December 22, 2010
posted by maryr at 9:44 AM on December 22, 2010
Stay away from Government Center at all costs.
No, don't! City Hall really is an amazing, if not particularly user friendly building/fortification. Hopefully, we'll get a new City Hall someday, and this City Hall we be repurposed as a really interesting museum Also, if you go, on the top floor there is a huge scale model of the city (which is in a locked glass room you can only peer into, but it's interesting nonetheless). There's also an installation by the Design Museum on that same floor about design in Boston.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 9:48 AM on December 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
No, don't! City Hall really is an amazing, if not particularly user friendly building/fortification. Hopefully, we'll get a new City Hall someday, and this City Hall we be repurposed as a really interesting museum Also, if you go, on the top floor there is a huge scale model of the city (which is in a locked glass room you can only peer into, but it's interesting nonetheless). There's also an installation by the Design Museum on that same floor about design in Boston.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 9:48 AM on December 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Stat center, sorrt.
For an example of new urbanism take a walk along the Rose Kennedy Greenway ( what was once under the elevated Rt 93.) From Chinatown to the North end. The contrasts between the organic growth of the two neighborhoods and the planned spaces are worth the trip.
posted by Gungho at 9:49 AM on December 22, 2010
For an example of new urbanism take a walk along the Rose Kennedy Greenway ( what was once under the elevated Rt 93.) From Chinatown to the North end. The contrasts between the organic growth of the two neighborhoods and the planned spaces are worth the trip.
posted by Gungho at 9:49 AM on December 22, 2010
It's rarely or maybe even never mentioned when a question like this is asked, but you can't see this anywhere but Boston (Cambridge, actually).
Lots of interesting architecture in the neighborhood, too, including the Carpenter Center mentioned by Gungho above. Gotta disagree with Gungho about visiting the Rose Kennedy Median Strip, especially in winter. It's a great example of a lost opportunity.
posted by Right On Red at 10:16 AM on December 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Lots of interesting architecture in the neighborhood, too, including the Carpenter Center mentioned by Gungho above. Gotta disagree with Gungho about visiting the Rose Kennedy Median Strip, especially in winter. It's a great example of a lost opportunity.
posted by Right On Red at 10:16 AM on December 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Gotta disagree with Gungho about visiting the Rose Kennedy Median Strip, especially in winter. It's a great example of a lost opportunity.
And how--the Greenway could have been so much more than what we got. I'd say drive along it on your way to Fort Point for the ICA.
For similar poignancy, your friend might be interested in this recent piece from NPR about how vibrant Downtown Crossing once was. There are some bright spots down by Boylston, but towards State, it's pretty shitty, particularly with the absolutely disgraceful hole that was once Filene's still gaping, unmolested by any sort of construction. A real lesson to be learned there about Boston development.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 10:29 AM on December 22, 2010
And how--the Greenway could have been so much more than what we got. I'd say drive along it on your way to Fort Point for the ICA.
For similar poignancy, your friend might be interested in this recent piece from NPR about how vibrant Downtown Crossing once was. There are some bright spots down by Boylston, but towards State, it's pretty shitty, particularly with the absolutely disgraceful hole that was once Filene's still gaping, unmolested by any sort of construction. A real lesson to be learned there about Boston development.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 10:29 AM on December 22, 2010
While you're at MIT visiting the excellent buildings that Gungho recommended, also visit Eero Saarinen's MIT Chapel and Kresge Auditorium.
Also, the new Media Lab expansion by Fumihiko Maki is fabulous. I was there recently, and the full set of project drawings, along with models, conceptual drawings, and other design-and-construction-related items were exhibited on the first floor.
posted by initapplette at 11:00 AM on December 22, 2010
Also, the new Media Lab expansion by Fumihiko Maki is fabulous. I was there recently, and the full set of project drawings, along with models, conceptual drawings, and other design-and-construction-related items were exhibited on the first floor.
posted by initapplette at 11:00 AM on December 22, 2010
Also, seconding the Gropius House recommendation above. The house contains original furnishings from the Bauhaus workshop, and most of the family's possessions (including Ise Gropius's coats and dresses in the front hall closet).
posted by initapplette at 11:05 AM on December 22, 2010
posted by initapplette at 11:05 AM on December 22, 2010
The Gropius House in Lincoln is absolutely worth seeing, but the tours are only on the weekends during winter, so it might be difficult around Christmas.
Absolutely the new wing at the MFA; the architecture is more interesting than the art. It's Norman Foster & Co. at their best.
A walk down Commonwealth Avenue and through the Public Gardens is great, especially at Christmas time when there are decorative lights. Seconding the "plan something fun after the ICA"; I like the Legal Seafood Test Kitchen myself.
The new Cambridge Public Library is a really gorgeous example of green building design (and has parking underneath). Then you can walk over to the Carpenter Center and/or the Sackler Museum, and/or the Gropius dorms at Harvard Law School...
If you're in the mood for a venture up to Manchester, New Hampshire, the Currier Museum is fun, and their Zimmerman House tour is one of the best Frank Lloyd Wright house tours around.
The Peabody Essex Museum is also pretty damn awesome.
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:25 AM on December 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Absolutely the new wing at the MFA; the architecture is more interesting than the art. It's Norman Foster & Co. at their best.
A walk down Commonwealth Avenue and through the Public Gardens is great, especially at Christmas time when there are decorative lights. Seconding the "plan something fun after the ICA"; I like the Legal Seafood Test Kitchen myself.
The new Cambridge Public Library is a really gorgeous example of green building design (and has parking underneath). Then you can walk over to the Carpenter Center and/or the Sackler Museum, and/or the Gropius dorms at Harvard Law School...
If you're in the mood for a venture up to Manchester, New Hampshire, the Currier Museum is fun, and their Zimmerman House tour is one of the best Frank Lloyd Wright house tours around.
The Peabody Essex Museum is also pretty damn awesome.
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:25 AM on December 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
If he is into New Urbanism and urbanism in general he should see the squares of Cambridge/Somerville (Central Square, Harvard Square, Davis Square). Also, Commonwealth Ave. in Back Bay between Arlington and Clarendon. And the side streets of the South End off of Tremont St. And Beacon Hill around Louisburg Square.
Government Center and the Stata Center are architectural garbage (my opinion), but he may be very interested to see them given their fame and prominence.
If there is time, there is a residential complex called Tent City near Copley Square that is worth walking by. He may also like the buildings in the Fort Point section of South Boston near Congress and Summer street.
posted by Aethelwer at 1:04 PM on December 22, 2010
Government Center and the Stata Center are architectural garbage (my opinion), but he may be very interested to see them given their fame and prominence.
If there is time, there is a residential complex called Tent City near Copley Square that is worth walking by. He may also like the buildings in the Fort Point section of South Boston near Congress and Summer street.
posted by Aethelwer at 1:04 PM on December 22, 2010
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posted by rmd1023 at 9:12 AM on December 22, 2010 [2 favorites]