March 26, 2008
Kogod Courtyard Named an 'Architectural Wonder'
When the Kogod Courtyard opened at the Reynolds Center last November, we knew the elegantly curved structure would become a favorite of our keen eyed photographers. Little did we know it would capture worldwide attention: the hoity toity magazine Condé Nast Traveler picked the Courtyard as one of the new Seven Architectural Wonders of the World in its April issue.
Kogod was named alongside such structures as the Red Ribbon in China's Tanghe River Park (which received the 2007 Design Honor Award by the American Soceity of Landscape Architects), London's Wembly Stadium, home of the 2012 Olympics, and the vertically unchallenged Burj Dubai, already the world's tallest building -- and it's not even finished yet. The Reynolds Center rolling glass and steel canopy was designed by Norman Foster, with the rest of the courtyard boasting ficus and black olive trees, along with very shallow pools of water. Read our full description of the courtyard here, and enjoy a selection of some of the best photos of the Kogod Courtyard to be found in our DCist Flickr Pool below.
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again with the Reynolds Center...
am i the only one who doesn't call it that? clearly i'm an ignoramus.
the only thing that would make it better is a starbucks.
I can't help but think the truly impressive aspect is the columned courtyard. The glass roof is just gilding the lily.
@MSto I call it the old patent office.
It feels like a big mall food court to me. I guess I just don't get it.
MSto -- The name of the entire building is "The Donald W. Reynolds Center," which houses the two museums that are intertwined inside, though they're actually separate entities. Sure, most people casually call it either SAAM or NPG when referring to the entire building, even though each only refers to half of it.
Psh. Whatever. True Washingtonians call it the Patent Office Building.
It's a fitting distinction. The Courtyard has quickly become one of my favorite places to go in DC. It's truly a marvelous setting.
I really like the patent office courtyard and all, but really, one of the 7 greatest architectural achievements world-wide?
I guess one shouldn't look askance at a prize like this, but I don't get quite the feeling of awe that the Conde-Nast writers apparently did. Guess that's why I'm not an architecture critic.
i call it the portrait gallery. screw true washingtonians.
the great thing about that courtyard is that someone like me who has NO photographic skill or ability can still take an amazing photo by just showing up there...