The New 2 Columbus Circle

Over the past few weeks, the Museum of Arts and Design has revealed its update for 2 Columbus Circle.

Regarded as controversial because it removed a distinctive facade created by Edward Durell Stone (the Landmarks Preservation Commission was not convinced to landmark it), the redesign shows off a sleek building in the same shape as the 1964 building, though some have noted a striking resemblance to a Bose music product.

You can delve into the building's transformation through an interactive feature from the NY Times, which also shows some terrific photographs of the original building (critically maligned when it was revealed), explains the building's engineering and pays tribute to the load-bearing "lollipop" pillars at the base. And the feature even explains why it looks like the new building says "HE."

The loss of the old Stone-designed building had upset many people, including the novelist Tom Wolfe, architect Robert A.M. Stern, artist Chuck Close and a bevy of architecture critics, and raised questions about the landmarks commission's decision-making. The Museum of Arts & Design isn't scheduled to open in its new home until September.

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By Jen Chung in Arts & Entertainment on May 2, 2008 9:14 AM

Comments [rss]

Allencena

I like both designs but nothing can match old one that was outstanding.

____________________________________

Allen

Wide Circles

sonyactivision

It was a retarded piece of shit then, and it's an even more retarded piece of shit now. Only the names and faces of the guilty have changed.

Kingpin

rarelement, nobody's saying the city can't grow, but that some of it's past should be preserved. My brother has often said that New York looks and feels like the oldest city in the US, where even if it isn't the oldest it seems to be one of the few with history on display all over the place... and that also goes for future history. Whilst there's a few buildings that we all consider ugly that one day will likely be landmarked, it seems to me that not enough is done to keep some reminders for future generations in the pursuit of more luxury condos and flashy storefronts.

EastRiver, you point about having a use is valid... I wasn't aware that they were actually having trouble seeking tenants to take the place over, although whilst I'm having difficulty thinking of a use for the building that doesn't need much natural light, I'm sure someone will probably come up with one.

PKinNYC

wow an ultra-modern building that says 'HE' on it???

rarelement

Context. Preservation is good but not great. It looks better across from the new towers and the Steelcase building than the EDS building did. Why doesn't anyone want to let this city grow?

EastRiver

but frankly it should have been kept as it was.

Which raises the question, what do you do with a building nobody wants? By that I mean it was sitting empty and nobody wanted to use the building for any purpose. Kingpin brings up Penn Station but at least Penn Station was a useful building. Almost every other building that has been landmarked ends up being used for something whether it is commercial or residential or cultural purposes.

That said, this new design blows.

lanciano

i can't beleive that this hideous, unfinished looking design was approved.

the old one wasn't pretty, but it made more sense than this.

chuzzlewit

the carrere and hastings building behind no.2 would give up and walk away if it had feet

rtd2101

Booooooo!

Kingpin

The old one was by no means beautiful in comparison to some of New York's greatest architectural triumphs, but frankly it should have been kept as it was.

It's not the same sort of level of loss as the original Penn Station was, but this new design, like the new Penn Station is hardly an improvement.

schizofriendly

Half-assed modernism replaced by half-assed post-modernism.

LOL!

janelle

this is depressing. i am generally a fan of cloepfil's work, but this? no. no. no.

JenChungsBaby

That building always did and still will look like one of those air intakes structures for the Lincoln or Holland tunnels. They should just nuke it and start over, OR keep the old facade and cover it with some really cool and colorful tile mosaic.

Pbobko

It's actually a gigantic model for the new waste basket from Home Ideas. That's why you find the letters H and I on either side of the building facade. Home Ideas is better known by its acronym H i .

From the web site: "The revolutionary new trash receptacle has been designed for home or office use. Trash removal--no problem, it can be opened using its hinged doors. Vents on the side are to allow for quick and easy installation of one of the many home or office air deodorizers found at you local retail market."

I believe that Home Ideas my be owned by the Bose corporation but I'm not sure...you'd have to check on that.