November 16, 2007
Kogod Courtyard Opens Sunday @ Reynolds Center
Dynamic, lively, stunning, soaring. These are the words used by Smithsonian officials and architect Spencer de Grey to describe the new Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, home to both the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. With a blend of modern aesthetics and historic sensibilities, the new courtyard is a gorgeous space that the Smithsonian plans to use to hold public programs and special events.
The courtyard was designed by Norman Foster of Foster + Partners architectural firm, who have also worked on the Reichstag, the new German Parliament in Berlin, and the Great Court at the British Museum in London. They worked with Kathryn Gustafson, a landscape designer affiliated with Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd., to transform the space. Gustafson and de Grey were on hand at the media opening to discuss the project and field questions.
The courtyard was designed to make visitors feel like they’re outside, without having to deal with cold and rain. Thus, a roof was necessary to making the space truly useful, and the architects decided upon a wavy glass and steel structure, with glass panels set in a grid and supported by columns. There are several “pools” of water, which are only a quarter inch deep. They reflect the courtyard and can also be turned off to accommodate more people in the space. Adorning the courtyard are two 32-foot ficus trees and 16 black olive trees, which are filled in with a variety of shrubs and ferns. The space is 28,000 square feet, and will feature free wireless internet access.
Photo by David S. Holloway/Getty Images courtesy Smithsonian Institution
Back in the 19th century, the courtyard served as the spot for President Lincoln’s 1865 inaugural ball, and Walt Whitman described the building as the “noblest of Washington’s buildings.” Thus, the courtyard designers faced challenges in making the space accessible, while at the same time retaining its beauty and historical importance. The courtyard is at once strikingly modern, yet preserves the feel of the period in which it was first build. The whole museum complex underwent extensive renovations beginning in 2001, opening in July 2006. The two museums remained open while work was done on the courtyard.
The Reynolds Center will celebrate the new courtyard on Sunday with a Friends and Family Festival, running from noon- 6 p.m. There will be hands-on art activities, live music performances and actors impersonating individuals from the museums’ collections, such as Marilyn Monroe and George Washington. For a full schedule of events visit the web site.
A café will also be opening November 20 in the courtyard, with a seasonal menu of salads, sandwiches, pastries and beverages including wine.
The Reynolds Center is located at 8th and F Streets, NW. The Center is open daily from 11:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
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Isn't this the same courtyard that they were bitching about so much - the one whose sheer design would end civilization as we know it, cause internal hemorraging in anyone walking by, and was probably the sole cause of global warming?
What happened to all that?
I didn't hear about any of that Hillman - were they making the courtyard out of rusted nails or something? If this space looks half as good as the picture though, that whole building is going to be totally kickass (and based on 'special events' it'll probably be a big revenue source too).
This is beautiful - America's response to the BEAUTIFUL British Museum courtyard.
Foster's lesser knockoff of his own British Museum courtyard canopy.
And the ONLY reason this canopy was built was as a special event revenue source - which is fine, they need the money, but let's not pretend there's anything else to it.
DCster: Isn't this the design that historical folks and various design committees tried so hard to stop, saying it wasn't boring enough for DC? In particular the entire canopy idea was constantly ridiculed by horrified design and historical preservation types.
It was supposed to be higher and more visible from the street. The historic board told them no and they had to scale it back and lower it so you can't see it from the street really.