Architectural Gems: Part 2

 Milwaukee Art Museum and Ten Chimneys

Part 2 of my Wisconsin travels includes our day trip to the Milwaukee Art Museum and, the next day, a trip to Genesee Depot and Ten Chimneys, the estate of American theater icons Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne.

First the Milwaukee Art Museum: In 1994 the Milwaukee Art Museum commissioned Spanish born architect, sculptor, engineer and bridge builder, Santiago Calatrava to build an new entrance and a new identity for their museum. The building was opened to the public in 2001. It sets on the shore of Lake Michigan and houses an atrium with views of the lake.

In 1957 the original museum space was designed by architect Eero Saarinen and in 1975 the building was enlarged with the jutting slab structure that extends out toward Lake Michigan.

Calatrava conceived of a glass and steel atrium/reception hall that would be shaded by a moveable sunscreen. The sunscreen is formed by 2 wings.

The Reiman Bridge, a suspended pedestrian walkway links the downtown to the waterfront. It is also the place to be at noon every day for the demonstration of the "wings" opening and closing. I hope the pictures below will give you a sense of the drama and power of the design.

And now a look at the inside the Museum.

Definitely in the spirit of the great builders of the Gothic Cathedrals of Europe...daring and testing the limits.

It has been said about  Santiago Calatrava "He combines light and air and structural elegance with strength"

and the design even extends to the parking garage!

Next, a complete change of pace: architecture of a completely different scale and purpose. We go from public architecture to residential architecture at Ten Chimneys.

The number of chimneys on all the combined buildings on the is (you guessed it) ten! Hence, Ten Chimneys. Above is the main house and home of Alfred and Lynn.

Katharine Hepburn said "Every time I was visiting with the Lunts in Genesee Depot, I was in a sort of daze of wonder, the dining room, the table, the china, the silver, the food, the extraordinary care and beauty and taste...a sort of dream, a vision."

The estate included a greenhouse, bath house and pool, and a separate residence known as "the hen house" where Alfred's Mother and sister resided. Pictured above is the bath house and behind it, "the hen house".

Picture Noel Coward, Helen Hayes, Katherine Hepburn (to name a few) lounging around the pool.

Thanks for sharing my trip with me. Next stop is Chicago and the Art Institute in November.