San Francisco's Iconic Buildings

[PanaManiac]

Originally Posted by 612bv3

How about the SF Mart?

Works for me...

[mexmatt]

Originally Posted by theEmbarcadero

The Flood Building always mesmerizes me. I wonder how many tourists stand next to it while waiting for a cable car...not realizing they are right next to one of the greatest buildings in California!!!

Also, I am surpised that Mission Dolores, or the US Mint have not been mentioned yet...2 of my favorites..!!!

Ditto on the Flood Building. It always seems so massive; quite an accomplishment for a building that's only 12 stories tall!
I'm also a big fan of the SF-MOMA, especially because of its juxtaposition with its neighbors and with the Yerba Buena Center across the street.

[PanaManiac]

Originally Posted by mexmatt

...I'm also a big fan of the SF-MOMA, especially because of its juxtaposition with its neighbors and with the Yerba Buena Center across the street.

[Cal_Escapee]

So how do you feel about the new wing:


Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/cult...-new-wing.html


Source: http://www.sfmoma.org/our_expansion/expansion_design

[Cal_Escapee]

Hard to believe these have not yet been posted

(New) de Young Museum

Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...useum_pano.jpg

Asian Art Museum

Source: http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cl...=0CBUQnwIoADAE

War Memorial Opera House

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Memorial_Opera_House

(New) Federal Building

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Fra...deral_Building

[PanaManiac]

Originally Posted by Cal_Escapee

Hard to believe these have not yet been posted

We reserved them for you to post... I did address De Young (see below), but made a concious decision not to post a pic, given the sensitivity of my eyes, but since you already have, here's a resized version (further below).

Originally Posted by PanaManiac

...If I were to compile a list of the city's uggliest buildings, the De Young Museum (facade) would top that list...

[Cal_Escapee]

I'm of mixed mind about the de Young (including its facade). For one thing, I don't think it's fair to judge it until it has oxidized to green as the architect intended (for those who don't know, it's entirely covered in copper sheets and it's amazing nobody has tried to strip any of them off yet). The idea was that it's in Golden Gate Park and shouldn't dominate nature so the architect (the Swiss firm Herzog & De Meuron - http://www.herzogdemeuron.com/index.html ) wanted it to turn green and blend into the background. That's also why it's otherwise bland, unassuming and undecorated.

But I so love the observation tower, I almost don't care about the facade.

Here's another view of the building:


Source: http://www.sftravel.com/de_young_mus...francisco.html

The view (see if you can spot the tops of the Golden Gate Bridge towers at about 20 seconds):

[Cal_Escapee]

Another one we all forgot (but the above tower view reminded me), Renzo Piano's California Academy of Sciences. Notice the reuse of a portion of the facade of the old Academy to the left of the main entrance.



Inside view of the rain forest exhibit

Source of images: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Califor...my_of_Sciences

Sorry about the size of the photos--I don't know how to make them smaller and these are far and away the best views I can find.

[Cal_Escapee]

Originally Posted by 612bv3

How about the SF Mart?

By the way, should probably mention for non-San Franciscans that this is the new home of Twitter.

[PanaManiac]

Originally Posted by Cal_Escapee

The view (see if you can spot the tops of the Golden Gate Bridge towers at about 20 seconds):

The bridge towers are visible on the still video image (post#27) and 15 seconds after clicking on play.

[mexmatt]

Originally Posted by Cal_Escapee

So how do you feel about the new wing:


Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/cult...-new-wing.html


Source: http://www.sfmoma.org/our_expansion/expansion_design

I wasn't aware of the new wing. Wow, me likey! Especially the terrace and the elevated glass walkway connecting it to that other building. Although the latter also bothers me a little, as it seems like it could be setting up the MOMA for a heist type of situation. Any word on what kind of collections will be housed in the new wing, or will it be used exclusively for temporary exhibits?

[Cal_Escapee]

Originally Posted by mexmatt

I wasn't aware of the new wing. Wow, me likey! Especially the terrace and the elevated glass walkway connecting it to that other building. Although the latter also bothers me a little, as it seems like it could be setting up the MOMA for a heist type of situation. Any word on what kind of collections will be housed in the new wing, or will it be used exclusively for temporary exhibits?

It is being built mainly to house the (amazing/wonderful/stupendous) collection of deceased GAP (clothing) owner/founder Don Fisher--"Comprising more than 1,100 works by 185 artists, the Doris and Donald Fisher Collection is one of the greatest private collections of modern and contemporary art in the world (per SFMOMA in first link below)".

The starchitect of the new wing, by the way, is the Norwegian firm Snohetta, best known for the Oslo Opera House:


Source: http://therepublicofless.wordpress.c...-hot-and-cool/

See:

http://www.sfmoma.org/our_expansion/...her_collection

http://www.sfmoma.org/about/press/pr...s/releases/828

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/ar...pagewanted=all

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...MN6E19TL93.DTL