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Monday, November 24, 2008

Architecture 'The architecture of defense'

Posted by on Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 8:09 AM

ArtOpen.jpg
I.M. Pei's self-described final cultural building: the new Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar. Pei didn't know from Islam when he was commissioned to do this building, so he reportedly studied the life of Muhammad, and studied Islamic 'architecture of defense,' became interested 'in fortifications.' So an admittedly Muslim-ignorant, Chinese-born American architect makes a museum-as-fortress paid for by the rising financial power of the money of the Persian Gulf—no wonder Ouroussoff sounds a little stilted and nervous in his writing about this museum.

 

Comments (7) RSS

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1
I lived in some I.M. Pei dormitories over the summer at Princeton. They were concrete and glass, 3 story things that looked like modern apartments.

Unfortunately they were completely sealed with no ventilation because they had been designed for central air conditioning -- which had never been installed due to cost. With the fishbowl style all glass walls, and summer sunshine, the average temperature in my room was about 95 degrees.

This is why my friends and I monickered Mr. Pei an Architect of Disaster.
Posted by John Bailo '82 on November 24, 2008 at 8:41 AM
2
It is different enough to be a curiosity. But if it was an architectural metaphor for Islam, then it looks like a prison. Just saying.
Posted by Vince on November 24, 2008 at 8:48 AM
3
Are you from New York? Or do you just not know from grammar?
Posted by Greg on November 24, 2008 at 9:15 AM
4
it will be interesting to see how the UAE functions when "The West" is flat broke.
Posted by Max Solomon on November 24, 2008 at 9:31 AM
5
When I saw this image in the paper this morning, the first thing that occurred to me is "huh, that kinda looks like a clunky set design for a regional opera production of Salome."
Posted by 1/2"scale on November 24, 2008 at 10:29 AM
6
John Balio said
my friends and I

I don't think this claim rings true. Anybody believe him?
Posted by biter on November 24, 2008 at 10:57 AM
7
Writing about architecture just encourages Ayn Rand fans.
Posted by dwight moody on November 24, 2008 at 12:28 PM

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