Abstract

More Light, or Who Needs Museums?
In this article the author presents his impressions on the rebuilding of the British Museum by sir Norman Foster: "The British Museum project, as regards is significance and scale, can be compared to Ieoh Ming Pei's project in Louvre. It was also 'only' a rebuilding scheme—but so significant that it has changed the whole image and structure of the project. Foster's solution is considerably more classicist, and at the same time it seems to be somewhat less bold and novel. There is no attempt at setting new trends, but rather what is obvious is surrounded by a halo of perfection and perhaps even some pomposity. While Pei's solution introduces entirely new qualities, Foster's one discovers the already existing merits. Pei imposes anew a grid of connections on the existing traffic arrangement: Foster centralises circulation and form. Pei is not reluctant to controversy; Foster's design is well mannered and impeccable. Pei's project is witty, exporting the heavy solid of the pyramid and turning it into a light toy where he invites visitors; Foster's project, on the contrary, is majestically symmetrical, introducing hierarchy in which he subjugates everything to himself. Architecture shows a lot more affinity to monumentality than to the common man. The courtyard seems to be preoccupied with the presentation of itself and the proud name of the Queen carved in the rotunda, rather than trying to make everyone more familiar with the exhibits. It is intriguing how easily high-tech designers succumb to the seduction of classical monumentalism. Evidently, these two ideas are not situated so far apart.