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No walk in the park: a new design for CAMP
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No one ever said that building a museum was going to be a walk in the park. Or, in the case of CAMP, a walk in the Presidio. But when the backers of the museum actually complicate the process, the walk threatens to erupt into pandemonium.
Last Thursday, a much-awaited new design for the Contemporary Art Museum of the Presidio (CAMP) was released. This design, by WRNS Studio, is a revision of the controversial Gluckman Mayner design of 2008 and shows a diminished and deemphasized building. Because the new design is rather conceptual (no surprises there), about all that can be discerned is the decreased massing of the building and a general sense that the building is now much lower than the surrounding historic structures. The façade facing the Main Parade is comprised mostly of glass. The roof is almost completely covered with plants; green roofs may become the de facto choice for cultural buildings in San Francisco.
Those design changes were expected. But an unexpected element of the design will ignite passions anew. Back in December, after prolonged public wrangling, the CAMP proponents indicated that a revised design would site the building farther to the south, off of the Main Parade ground. Some critics of the project indicated that they would be open to compromise if that were the case. CAMP seemed to be slowly finding its way to reality.
The unexpected twist is that the new building sits in the same spot as the earlier design, squarely at the head of the Main Parade, not further to the south as was previously stated. CAMP opponents are stunned. Gary Widman, president of the Presidio Historic Association, stated, “This is a slap in the face to those of us who are concerned about this project.”
When I asked Alex Tourk, publicity manager for CAMP, why the design placed the building back at the original, highly contested site, he replied, “The [CAMP] campaign feels that this is the perfect setting.”
If anything, the two sides now appear to be as far apart as they ever were. And, honestly, it’s hard to see why Don Fisher (backer of the museum) would deliberately change directions when he seemingly was exploring middle ground with the museum’s opponents.
So what’s next? The Presidio Trust takes up the new design on April 1 in a public session. Get ready for fireworks at that event; expect the opposition to be there in record numbers. The comment period continues for some time and eventually the Trust will make a decision on the proposed museum.
Here’s my prediction. Over vociferous opposition, the Trust will approve this design scheme or something very similar to it. Shortly thereafter, the various opposition groups will file suit in federal court, contending that the design violates federal law and guidelines for development within a historic district. And the museum, which at its heart should be a wonderful addition to San Francisco, will languish a few more years while the legal battle rages.
For more info: Presidio National Environmental Policy Act documents
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Contemporary Art Museum of the Presidio
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