Santiago calatrava milwaukee art museum
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Calatrava recalls the emotion that surrounded the formal dedication of the Quadracci Pavilion, which took place about a month after the Sept. The latter was named for Harry and Betty Quadracci, who co-founded Quad, the company that bought Milwaukee Magazine in 1983. It was a very nice experience for me, and a most meaningful one.
They can be libraries, universities, churches, those that also define the geography of our cities – the landmarks.
“By Milwaukee standards, it was a gamble, but it’s a gamble that has paid off,” he says. “The museum’s campus consists of three monumental buildings. We have a wonderful city. Plus, hungry families will find refreshments and snacks at the Museum Café.
Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM)
Calatrava proposed a pavilion-like construction on axis with Wisconsin Avenue, the main street of central Milwaukee.
“The Milwaukee Art Museum was a big piece of the city’s transformation, [but] I don’t know that any one thing solely creates that transformation. “For the people who decided to do the museum, they should be really proud,” Calatrava says. Don't forget to visit the museum shop for unique gifts and souvenirs!
Since the museum is stroller and wheelchair-friendly, everyone is able and welcome to explore.
The layout is thoughtfully designed to cater to various interests. From that perspective, it was forward-looking and hopeful. “It’s the raisin in the batter, and it will always be that way. Children can transform themselves into a work of art with costumes inspired by works in the museum. The 100-seat restaurant, which is placed at the focal point of the pavilion, commands panoramic views onto the lake.
The pavilion features a spectacular kinetic structure: a bris-soleil with louvers that open and close like the wings of a great bird.
“One of my favorite things about the city is the truly authentic way that so many people identify with that building, across all parts of Milwaukee,” she says. I got to work with great professionals. This architectural marvel draws visitors from around the globe, making it a must-see for anyone visiting Milwaukee. Renowned for its striking design by Santiago Calatrava, the museum’s Burke Brise Soleil, a movable sunscreen with wings that open and close twice daily, mimics the wings of a giant bird.
Its leaning mast conveys a sense of direction, of movement, which is taken up by the roof, the cables, and the canopies that extend on each side. Then came projects such as the Montjuïc Communications Tower in Barcelona and the Allen Lambert Galleria in Toronto in the decade before he was commissioned to design what became the Quadracci Pavilion.
Calatrava says he’s honored that his work continues to resonate with Milwaukee residents and visitors who flock to the city.
“Once a building is finished, as an architect the only thing that you can do is see what the reaction of the people is, how they see the building and what they see as the meaning of the building, even after 20 years,” Calatrava says.