Walked the paths atop the beautiful 2-kilometer structure encircling Osaka’s Expo 2025. Up close, the amazing workmanship features traditional joints reminiscent of temple construction. The laminated wooden beams are meticulously finished and appear suitable for interior work. Its theme, “unity in diversity,” is something most would surely support.
Category: Architecture
Kobe: art, architecture, and a look at history
Visited the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art in Kobe, designed by Tadao Ando. I always feel at peace in Ando’s buildings. Walked around galleries featuring Ando’s building models and timeline. Took a look at a large Paul Klee retrospective, his Bauhaus pieces particularly resonated with me. His work was condemned as degenerate in 1930’s Germany and was confiscated from museums. In the USA we’re on the thin end of that wedge.
Funding beautiful homes, one dress at a time
On our walk, Desert House, commissioned from architect Richard Neutra in 1946 by department store magnate Edgar J. Kaufmann. The LA Times lists it as one of the ten most important homes in the LA area (stretching it geographically). Kaufmann also commissioned Fallingwater from Frank Lloyd Wright, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. While Desert House was being built, Kaufmann stayed in the much more modest Villa Hermosa, where we’re staying.
They are alive
Went for a walk between rain showers. Outside the art museum we found another temporary Desert X installation, ‘Alive!’, a repurposed wind turbine blade. Behind it, you can see the permanent installation of architect Albert Frey’s Aluminaire House (America’s first all-metal house, originally shown at an exhibition in New York City in 1931). Later, in 1946, he designed the place where we’re staying.
Reimagining common spaces in a digital age
Retreating from the cold wind, I sought refuge in the skyways. Here, I’m walking through the Central Library, a place I rarely visit since I primarily borrow e-books online. My mind drifted to the stunning Mediatheque in Sendai, Japan, designed by Toyo Ito. I enjoyed a Sunday afternoon there, sheltering from an inbound typhoon, experiencing how libraries can be reimagined and be relevant and popular in the future.
On My Foraging Walk…
My walk took me to three supermarkets: Seward Co-op, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s. Along the way, caught a glimpse of these unique buildings. On the left, built in 1965 for Northwestern National Life, the building is sheathed with beautifully matched-up marble. On the right, built in 1972 for the Federal Reserve, the building hangs from 24 cables connecting two concrete towers, much like a suspension bridge.
Christmas at Dayton’s
On a downtown walk with a friend, we explored the repurposed Dayton’s department store, now a mixed-use building. The first floor hosted Christmas pop-up shops, while the basement showcased exhibits from the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame. My baseball-loving friend got to reminisce and I enjoyed the backstories.
Life in a Climate-Controlled World
It was a brisk 12°F when I set out for my walk today. Eventually, I sought refuge in the Skyway system. Here, I’m making my way through the Northstar Center. Once an office tower, the building has been repurposed to include apartments. Given lower office occupancy rates post-pandemic, there’ll be more such conversions. Downtown Minneapolis has emerged as one of the fastest-growing residential neighborhoods in the Twin Cities.
Downtown Discoveries
The new-to-us Hotel Ivy was an objective of a Downtown walk with a friend. The modern building incorporates a “mini-skyscraper,” originally an office tower for the Christian Science Church, built in 1930. Today, the old tower houses suites, including a two-story penthouse. Afterward, we recharged with coffee and croissants at a new-to-us coffee shop.
Contradictions
A random walk through Downtown, guided by traffic light signals, led me to Philip Johnson’s 1972 IDS Center, a testament to its enduring design. However, Johnson’s past as an ardent Nazi supporter in the 1930s casts a long shadow. He publicly admired “Mein Kampf,” attended the invasion of Poland, and described it as a “stirring spectacle.” While he renounced these views in the 1940s, his earlier actions forever tarnish his legacy.