Design Observer :: Join the Discussion http://places.designobserver.com/feature/lunch-with-the-critics-northwest-corner-building-columbia-university/23428/ en-us Design Observer Group 2010-12-24T18:11:51-05:00 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0
Columbia U's original campus designers wanted the public to enter into the central court and from there into the individual campus buildings - an interesting riff on inward looking Medieval campus plan precedent. But this new building by Moneo isn't accessed from a central court, but from the street, making the fortress like perimeter wall a 'let's make it contextual' afterthought. I think it very possible that the architect was pressured by a University design review committee to contextualize. An architect of his stature shouldn't be designing by committee.]]> Peter Rudd http://places.designobserver.com/feature/lunch-with-the-critics-northwest-corner-building-columbia-university/23428/#comments 2010-12-24T18:11:51-05:00