Comments on: What the New Collection of Menil Collections Might Look Like http://swamplot.com/what-the-new-collection-of-menil-collections-might-look-like/2009-01-27/ Houston, Texas real estate development, home buying, landscape, and design Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:50:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Raj http://swamplot.com/what-the-new-collection-of-menil-collections-might-look-like/2009-01-27/#comment-29785 Raj Fri, 29 May 2009 21:36:42 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=5950#comment-29785 Here is an interview of Josef Helfenstein, the director of the Menil, about the master plan and Richmont Square: <a href="http://offcite.org/2009/05/29/chipperfield-and-the-menil-masterplan-an-interview-with-josef-helfenstein" rel="nofollow">Chipperfield and the Menil Master Plan: An Interview with Josef Helfenstein</a> Here is an interview of Josef Helfenstein, the director of the Menil, about the master plan and Richmont Square:

Chipperfield and the Menil Master Plan: An Interview with Josef Helfenstein

]]> By: EDward http://swamplot.com/what-the-new-collection-of-menil-collections-might-look-like/2009-01-27/#comment-18019 EDward Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:00:55 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=5950#comment-18019 Please let the Menil tear down the 1400 Richmond aka Richmont Apt.s Mrs. DeMenil built/owned them at one time. And buying the ATT truck lot is an excellent idea. That property is UGLY too. Hopefully the Menil will save as many old oaks on the 1400 Richmond property as possible. Please let the Menil tear down the 1400 Richmond aka Richmont Apt.s Mrs. DeMenil built/owned them at one time. And buying the ATT truck lot is an excellent idea. That property is UGLY too. Hopefully the Menil will save as many old oaks on the 1400 Richmond property as possible.

]]> By: Eric http://swamplot.com/what-the-new-collection-of-menil-collections-might-look-like/2009-01-27/#comment-17668 Eric Wed, 28 Jan 2009 02:43:22 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=5950#comment-17668 The University of Saint Thomas should be glad they have such world renowned neighbors. They can expand across the street where there are crappy gas stations and senseless strip centers, not further west where a world-renowned art museum resides. Besides they already tried that and got a big collective "F" from the architectural scene in Houston. The University of Saint Thomas should be glad they have such world renowned neighbors.

They can expand across the street where there are crappy gas stations and senseless strip centers, not further west where a world-renowned art museum resides. Besides they already tried that and got a big collective “F” from the architectural scene in Houston.

]]> By: Eric http://swamplot.com/what-the-new-collection-of-menil-collections-might-look-like/2009-01-27/#comment-17655 Eric Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:09:54 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=5950#comment-17655 Judging that its the Menil Collection, I am sure they will build appropriately. David Chipperfield is a decent architect. Much better than the locals such as kirksey or morris! Thank God at least one Houston institution has the guts to hire someone with a name. Of course this is just the master plan. Judging that its the Menil Collection, I am sure they will build appropriately. David Chipperfield is a decent architect. Much better than the locals such as kirksey or morris! Thank God at least one Houston institution has the guts to hire someone with a name. Of course this is just the master plan.

]]> By: Denison http://swamplot.com/what-the-new-collection-of-menil-collections-might-look-like/2009-01-27/#comment-17654 Denison Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:41:34 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=5950#comment-17654 wow. no wonder they didnt want to sell any of this land to St Thomas. that is awful for the University's expansion plans though. UST wanted some of these parcels for the development of the college! Being a graduate I would like to see this more than the expansion of the Menil. wow. no wonder they didnt want to sell any of this land to St Thomas. that is awful for the University’s expansion plans though. UST wanted some of these parcels for the development of the college! Being a graduate I would like to see this more than the expansion of the Menil.

]]> By: kjb434 http://swamplot.com/what-the-new-collection-of-menil-collections-might-look-like/2009-01-27/#comment-17651 kjb434 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:06:50 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=5950#comment-17651 Neil, You ought get that concept over to the planner for the museum. I sounds pretty good. The best solution is to have access to Richmond with the planned light rail. Museum goers to all the facilities near Herman Park could easily get to Menil without having to move there car or walk a long distance. Neil,

You ought get that concept over to the planner for the museum.

I sounds pretty good. The best solution is to have access to Richmond with the planned light rail.

Museum goers to all the facilities near Herman Park could easily get to Menil without having to move there car or walk a long distance.

]]> By: Neil http://swamplot.com/what-the-new-collection-of-menil-collections-might-look-like/2009-01-27/#comment-17650 Neil Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:58:22 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=5950#comment-17650 Mark, I don't know who you know, but if the telephone company is ambivalent about air rights and anyone on the museum end considers it a priority, it could happen. An octet truss underneath or above new rooms would be able to transfer their weight to the ground with a clear span over all the activities in the middle and would do so without any more disruption than the digging of column footings at relatively wide intervals around the edge of the tract. This spacing would harmonize easily with the building on the corner, and since the truck lot uses Yupon/Colquitt instead of an exit onto Richmond, the new space might descend to the streetfront there among the live oaks. Or, yeah, take off there, depending on the Menil's decision about the Richmont tract up to that corner lot. The phone company would be getting free covered parking out of the deal, and positive press associated with making an iconic new public form possible. If it were done right, the best of all will be that it will still show much more attachment to the city surroundings than the typical piece of museum art architecture. Mark,
I don’t know who you know, but if the telephone company is ambivalent about air rights and anyone on the museum end considers it a priority, it could happen. An octet truss underneath or above new rooms would be able to transfer their weight to the ground with a clear span over all the activities in the middle and would do so without any more disruption than the digging of column footings at relatively wide intervals around the edge of the tract. This spacing would harmonize easily with the building on the corner, and since the truck lot uses Yupon/Colquitt instead of an exit onto Richmond, the new space might descend to the streetfront there among the live oaks. Or, yeah, take off there, depending on the Menil’s decision about the Richmont tract up to that corner lot. The phone company would be getting free covered parking out of the deal, and positive press associated with making an iconic new public form possible. If it were done right, the best of all will be that it will still show much more attachment to the city surroundings than the typical piece of museum art architecture.

]]> By: EMME http://swamplot.com/what-the-new-collection-of-menil-collections-might-look-like/2009-01-27/#comment-17648 EMME Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:30:24 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=5950#comment-17648 Yes, Pat the Texas Opry House rocked, for a long time. I saw Arlo Guthrie perform there. I was maybe all of 16. Yes, Pat the Texas Opry House rocked, for a long time. I saw Arlo Guthrie perform there. I was maybe all of 16.

]]> By: kjb434 http://swamplot.com/what-the-new-collection-of-menil-collections-might-look-like/2009-01-27/#comment-17642 kjb434 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:04:02 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=5950#comment-17642 And next to the adult "book" store is Decades which happened to be the first gay bar in Montrose to open immediately after Hurricane Ike. They didn't lose power. The Sunday after the Hurricane the bar was pack with patrons spread outside all the parking lot drinking. Smoke was allowed inside (screw the city ordinance). The made a lot of money those first couple of days until EJ's got power. The rest of the gayborhood had to wait a week. Most set generators up. I think that why I would rather the museum redevelop the piece of existing property where the parking lot is next to Alabama. They can go vertical and include some parking in the facility. The Alabama St scene is a little prettier than Richmond. And next to the adult “book” store is Decades which happened to be the first gay bar in Montrose to open immediately after Hurricane Ike. They didn’t lose power. The Sunday after the Hurricane the bar was pack with patrons spread outside all the parking lot drinking. Smoke was allowed inside (screw the city ordinance). The made a lot of money those first couple of days until EJ’s got power. The rest of the gayborhood had to wait a week. Most set generators up.

I think that why I would rather the museum redevelop the piece of existing property where the parking lot is next to Alabama. They can go vertical and include some parking in the facility. The Alabama St scene is a little prettier than Richmond.

]]> By: Pat http://swamplot.com/what-the-new-collection-of-menil-collections-might-look-like/2009-01-27/#comment-17639 Pat Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:47:34 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=5950#comment-17639 Yeah, kid. It was called the Texas Opry House. And it rocked. It rocked. Yeah, kid. It was called the Texas Opry House. And it rocked. It rocked.

]]> By: snacho http://swamplot.com/what-the-new-collection-of-menil-collections-might-look-like/2009-01-27/#comment-17637 snacho Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:33:03 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=5950#comment-17637 is no one else annoyed by these underwhelming renderings?? seriously.. why even let the public see this? is no one else annoyed by these underwhelming renderings?? seriously.. why even let the public see this?

]]> By: EMME http://swamplot.com/what-the-new-collection-of-menil-collections-might-look-like/2009-01-27/#comment-17635 EMME Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:08:27 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=5950#comment-17635 Richmont Square, formerly simply called 1400 Richmond. I lived there in the late 70s. THere were two adult bookstores across the street and the Texas Opry House(I think that is what it was called) immediately west of it. The famed Richmont all night grocery with the best people watching in town. Yeah, it's time, I would rather see it go than the bungalows. The bungalows and all the trees make for a lovely contrast to the starkness of the Menil. Richmont Square, formerly simply called 1400 Richmond. I lived there in the late 70s. THere were two adult bookstores across the street and the Texas Opry House(I think that is what it was called) immediately west of it. The famed Richmont all night grocery with the best people watching in town.

Yeah, it’s time, I would rather see it go than the bungalows. The bungalows and all the trees make for a lovely contrast to the starkness of the Menil.

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