responsive second concept proposal for chicago’s lucas museum of narrative art.
a new proposal view of the lucas museum of narrative art with cityscape from the south east. all new proposal renderings are courtesy of the lucas museum of narrative art.
Chinese architect Ma Yansong [ MAD Architects ] second concept presentation of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art responds to being too big and unruly for the lakefront and the existing buildings in Museum Campus. With 25% less building mass and 40% less footprint, the second iteration sticks to the initial concept though its new scale is now cooperating with the surroundings. Regretfully, the naysayers wanting the same unobstructed views of the lake from Lake Shore Drive that the seldom used ‘parking lot’ offers will still not be happy campers along with the tail-gaters.
a bird’s eye view of the lucas museum of narrative art and surrounding park setting.
Though the building went from 110 feet tall to 137 feet tall, the new proposal is more sleek, lighter looking. The landscaping design, by New York’s SCAPE landscape architects and Chicago’s Studio Gang Architects, responds to the new proposal and delivers Ma’s vision that the building’s form itself is a rolling hill, though now with new dunes and bike and foot flow winding around it.
rendering of the visitor experience on the public plaza of the lucas museum of narrative art. the plaza as well as the surrounding greenspace will be open and accessible to park visitors.
a look inside the lucas museum of narrative art. the diagram shows the spiral ramp, three theaters, galleries, classrooms and library.
an aerial view of the lucas museum of narrative art site.
There are still unanswered questions what happens to traffic when the Chicago Bears play at home therefore traffic-flow plans are in order and we want to see more concept details. And please don’t stop being critical. Ma and team is responding. And please don’t stop squabbling the ‘parking lot’ is the best option because there is land available for a ‘parking facility’ immediately west of the Drive. If you’re debate is the view from Lake Shore Drive is ‘unpleasing to the eye’ please suggest leveling Soldier Field.
an aerial view of the the lakefront site.
The ‘view of the lake’ from Lake Shore Drive argument however, is only angle-deep. Here’s why. If you really wish to see the lake, don’t settle for views from LSD. It’s a whole new world being at the water’s edge. Seriously.
a side-by-side comparison of the lakefront site as it currently exists and how it will look with the museum and accessible, added green-space in place.
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got
Till it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lotbig yellow taxi | joni mitchell | 1970
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, in development for Chicago’s lake shore museum campus, will celebrate the power of visual storytelling through collections and exhibitions of narrative painting, illustration, photography, film and cinema arts, animation and digital art. The Museum’s highly innovative facility is designed by Beijing-based MAD Architects. The Lucas Museum’s collection, conceived and initiated by George Lucas, continues to develop and grow in order to fulfill the Museum’s educationally driven mission.
