Royal Ontario Museum Extension, Toronto |
Thursday, 07 June 2007 |
What started out as a sketch on a napkin at a family wedding, soon
became a submission for Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum extension. This
extension may well signal the prelude to the city’s cultural
renaissance, and be the first deviation from the boxy buildings of the
existing landscape. It’s about time someone got away from the boxes,
plus this building is not too shabby either.
World-famous architect Daniel Libeskind, who also won the 2002 contest
to replace New York’s World Trade Center, faxed the napkins in. Since
then, the 56,000 square-foot addition has brewed several controversies
amongst Torontonians and architecture buffs - as does any visionary
work, or so they say. While some praise its bold design marked by
angular complexity, others believe it’s an insult to a heritage
monument. Yet others just think it resembles an alien ship from space.
At least it has people talking.
Completion is estimated for 2009, when seven galleries will house
exhibits including the world’s largest known black-star sapphires,
masterworks from Japan and pre-historic dinosaur and mammal specimens
The new lounge-like, black-and-white-themed fine-dining restaurant
Crystal 5, will give you a peek into the city through the large windows
over fresh, organic meals in biodegradable packaging. They’ve thought
of everything. Since when have places that house historical items had
to resemble medieval, symbolic, majestic, or so-called timeless
buildings? We don’t think they do, and this dawning of the Crystal age
supports our views. By Hima Bativia
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