Gehry's Disney Hall Too Shiney for LA

[Paul Clerkin]

Complaints take shine off Gehry's L.A. concert hall
Last Updated Tue, 30 Nov 2004 16:36:04 EST

LOS ANGELES - A new $274 million US concert hall designed by Canadian-born architect Frank Gehry is proving too brilliant for some of its neighbours in downtown Los Angeles.

The stainless steel exterior of the Walt Disney Concert Hall has been partially covered by a grey mesh fabric for months to try to reduce a bothersome glare that has sparked complaints from motorists, pedestrians and people living in a nearby condominium complex.


The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is considering a report that recommends sandblasting portions of the building to create a duller, less-reflective surface.

Gehry, who was born in Toronto but lives in Los Angeles, is an acclaimed architect known for his trademark swooping shapes and his use of eye-catching shiny materials in buildings around the world, such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

But complaints about the sprawling 89,306 square metre concert hall in Los Angeles have been flowing into the local politicians since it was officially opened in October 2003.

Initially people in the condo tower complained that the building's swooping towers were reflecting the sun's rays and ruining their view of the city.

Throughout the summer, passing motorists reported being distracted by the reflected rays, while pedestrians described having to cross the street to avoid the intense heat.

The report, which was delivered to local politicians last week, said temperatures on sidewalks adjacent to the concert hall reached higher than 58 C.

The owner of a nearby video store said the reflected rays during this summer made her work feel "like sitting in a sauna."

The Walt Disney Concert Hall features a state-of-the-art 2,265-seat auditorium which serves as the home for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Gehry could not be reached for comment on Monday.

A decision on the fate of the exterior is expected to be reached by January.

[Paul Clerkin]

Gehry-designed concert hall to lose some of its brilliance

The shiny new Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles will be a little less so after an upcoming renovation takes some of the sheen off a section of its mirror-like exterior walls.

County officials approved a plan Tuesday to "dull" a 390-square-metre, convex section of the hall's shiny siding. The glare produced by the siding has distracted motorists and generated extra heat that overwhelms passing pedestrians as well as neighbouring stores and condo towers.

The stainless steel exterior of the hall had been partially covered by a grey mesh fabric for months.

The "dulling" will take several months and cost about $90,000 US, which the concert hall will pay for.

A nearby marquee that is also made of polished stainless steel, will also be "dulled" after complaints from motorists and pedestrians.

Completed in 2003, the hall was designed by Canadian architect Frank Gehry and is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

[lexington]

I like Gehry's stuff quite often - in some ways, his works remind me of Antonio Gaudi in their unwaivering quest for something just that little bit different. The so-called 'Fred & Ginger' building in Prague is one of my favourites for its pure absurdy and yet, admirable beauty. It seems quite the technical achievement also. A similar project has be proposed by Frank and his buddies for Barcelona - which would tie in nicely with the city's affliation to Gaudi.

[jamesinbelfast]

I like Gehry's stuff quite often - in some ways, his works remind me of Antonio Gaudi in their unwaivering quest for something just that little bit different.

Different from other architect's previous buildings, yes. Different from his own previous buildings, nope.

*j*