>Frankly, it looks like the library didn't want to give on
>any of it's program AND wants the presentation of the
>building as a city statement as many others had wanted
Being one of the people who have had major questions about the library
program plan, I found the presentation by the Peli team convincing that it
really can not work well. The Peli team even brought in their own library
planner. The staff even proposed shrinking some of the program space. It
was still a tight fight. I actually think this work was useful. It
started a good review of the previous planning efforts.
>
>The much more plausible plan would have been for the library
>to give a little on it's program and create a grand plaza
>perhaps paired with the planetarium on the south block.
If building the library on the north block is tight (which everyone agrees
with), how do you get space for a grand plaza and library on the north
block?
Building the planetarium separate from the library will not work. It would
greatly increase both the construction and operating cost of the
planetarium. It also reduces possibilities for the synergies between the
library and planetarium (which actually work better on the south block).
Regarding having a park on the north block. Carol provided a lot of the
reasons. I have a couple others.
* First, that block would tie the gateway park to the old fed reserve plaza.
* Second, a park on the north block would work great for a larger space
for performances by using both the Fed Res. plaza and the north block park.
* Third, it ties to history. The old Gateway park was there.
* It opens up views from the inside of the library to something other than
buildings (remember, in 10 to 20 years, all the blocks will likely be built
up with tall buildings.
Finally, views of the building. The NW Tower is a landmark because you can
see it. The Weisman is a landmark (some like, some hate) because you can
see it. The new Walker and Guthrie will be landmarks because you will be
able to see them. The courthouse is a landmark because you can see it (on
the skyline and with plazas on two sides). Without the North block park,
there will be NO good view of the new library.
I would also argue that it is important that the library be a landmark. The
public library in a city is probably the best monument and reminder of our
egalitarian democracy, of US history. It is the monument to freedom of
speech and the Bill of Rights.
><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
Sheldon Mains, [EMAIL PROTECTED], Seward Neighborhood, Minneapolis
"Technology is the campfire around which we tell our stories."
--Laurie Anderson as reported in Wired
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