by: Kristen Richards Hon. ASLA Hon. AIA
In the last few weeks I was fortunate to get sneak-peaks of two projects. First, the recently opened (and oooh-inspiring) “Madagascar!” habitat. FXFOWLE Architects’ transformation of the Bronx Zoo’s 1903 Heins & LaFarge-designed Lion House into a LEED Gold fantasyland of lemurs, crocks (13 feet!), and oh-so-Art Deco-looking (really!) hissing cockroaches. This should be on everyone’s “must-see” list this summer.
Welcome to “Madagascar!” No kidding about the magic — there’s no visible barrier between humans and lemurs.
Kristen Richards
Sustainable features such as geothermal wells and gray water re-use make this the first NYC landmarked building to achieve LEED Gold.
Kristen Richards
The restored 1963 Paul Rudolph Art & Architecture building and the new Jeffrey Loria Center for the History of Art, Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects’ tour-de-force at Yale, is set to open soon. A recent hard-hat tour led by Charles Gwathmey, FAIA, offered a peek at what’s in store.
Abutting Rudolph’s Brutalist concrete and glass, Gwathmey’s contemporary Loria Center clad in limestone, glass, and zinc holds its own very comfortably. Over the years, the Rudolph building had been partitioned into warrens of work spaces; now the light pours in.
Kristen Richards
Stairways have been restored, some floors have been raised, and unobtrusive ramps installed to make all 37 levels in the nine-story building fully accessible; personal experience of the levels: at one point we kept going up and down stairs, but always ended up on the 3rd floor.
Kristen Richards