i will say that the best thing about this winner was the permeability of the ground floor. It was not my favorite (wasn't really excited about any of them) but I did like some of the ways that this utilized the street edges and visibility to give people passing by something to look into/at.

by Steve Davis on Apr 14, 2009 2:26 pm  

Welcome to the Pizza Hut!

by Aaron on Apr 14, 2009 2:32 pm  

Architectural poverty wins. Wohoo!

by Jasper on Apr 14, 2009 3:14 pm  

If I'm not mistaken, the winner was selected by the NMAAHC's council. That includes Quincy Jones, Oprah Winfrey, and Franklin Raines. So, in the end this was just a preference of a group of people, not necessarily the absolute "best" - not that it would ever be possible to pick a true best for something as subjective as architecture. (But the interior really does resemble a hotel lobby.)(And the staircase looks awful.)

by Michael on Apr 14, 2009 3:51 pm  

These were the people on the jury, according to the Smithsonian's press release:

• Mike Bellamy, P.E., Director, Smithsonian’s Office of Engineering, Design and Construction
  
  
• Lonnie G. Bunch III (jury chair), Director, NMAAHC
  
  
• Robert Campbell, Architecture Critic, Boston Globe
  
  
• Maurice Cox, Director of Design, National Endowment for the Arts
  
  
• James A. Johnson, member of the museum’s council, Vice Chairman of Perseus LLC and former Chairman and CEO of Fannie Mae
  
  
• Robert Kogod, member of Smithsonian Board of Regents, chair of the Board’s facilities committee and President of Charles E. Smith Management LLC
  
  
• Sheryl Kolasinski, AIA, Director, Smithsonian’s Office of Planning and Project Management
  
  
• Franklin D. Raines, member of the museum’s council, former Chairman and CEO of Fannie Mae and former Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget
  
  
• Linda Johnson Rice, co-chair of the museum’s council and CEO of Johnson Publishing Company Inc. (publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines)
  
  
• Adèle Naudé Santos, Dean of the School of Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Principal Architect for the San Francisco-based firm, Santos Prescott and Associates

by David Alpert on Apr 14, 2009 4:12 pm  

Does any of the jury live in DC?

by Erik on Apr 14, 2009 4:48 pm  

This was my second favorite of the choices, I think it'll look good at the location. It will attract attention but the design itself has some class and isn't too crazy for the space. It's better than the box with the hull of a ship on the side. The inside of that particular design was beautiful though, it mostly made up for the boring (IMO) exterior. My gripe with the selected design is the relatively unimpressive interior. It's safe, you could say, not too interesting looking. Hopefully the exterior lighting on this one is tasteful yet brings something new.

Obviously, none of them are perfect, though. Architecture is one of those things you can almost always critique.

by Vik on Apr 14, 2009 5:24 pm  

Just watched the 2 minute fly-over video, from the interior it looks decent. No sweeping, wide-open views except from the roof but it looks alright, safe, I'd say. Pretty sure I'd rather have that area landscaped better than have it built over but we'll see for sure when it's done.

by Vik on Apr 14, 2009 5:31 pm  

Erik

It's a national museum paid for by national tax dollars. I know you might think DC is the center of the universe, but there's more to America than DuPont Circle.

by MPC on Apr 14, 2009 6:22 pm  

Wow, what a boring design. A prime space on the Mall and we get a tan box. How does that relate to the African American experience? And does anyone know if it will be a museum or an over-sized gift shop with a gallery tacked on like the American Indian museum?

by Wayan on Apr 14, 2009 7:36 pm  

I have to say, that's a pretty awful design. It looks like a squat inverted pyramid. Hopefully somebody will come to his or her senses and alter this design before construction begins.

And, this may not be politically correct, but why are we spending the money to build this thing? As far as I know, the Smithsonian is in the red due to massive decreases in investment revenue and foundation grants... seems like it would be a better idea to keep the Smithsonian Institutions that already exist operational before adding new ones.

by Adam L on Apr 14, 2009 10:17 pm  

MPC

your comment is very typical and this mindset is one of the reasons why we have such a lack of respect & clout in DC- although we have more people than some states. DC citizens SHOULD ALWAYS BE GIVEN INPUT ON THESE ISSUES.

In addition to this-

Many of this city's problems stem from the US government at large interfering with the GOOD aspects of DC- such as demolition of beautiful and functional historic buildings, freeways being snaked thru the city- and destruction of the streetcar system which was one of the very best in North America.

Not that the USA govt is evil- we have Metro, and certainly assetts here in place from the Feds that are fabulous- but to say that DC is peripheral to any decisions that impact us - especially to those of us who make this our home- go take that back to your home state and see how a simlar attitude would fly .

As far as this design is concerned- to me it is total crap. It is an insult to the dynamic and fabulous history of Black people in this country. There is no triumph in this warehouse. Actually- I have seen warehouses that are more appealing to the eye.

by w on Apr 15, 2009 9:29 am  

w,

While our voices should of course be heard, in respect to a national memorial, we shouldn't have any greater say over this memorial than other Americans ... other than of course perhaps those private individuals and corporations who are footing the bill for this building. If you think "proximity" gives us more right to saying what the building should look like, then think again ... since this building will be just as close to population centers in Va. than to population centers in DC. This is a "national" monument. As DCers we should be greatful for all the wonderful things bestowed on our city by national interests (including the feds) for which we don't pay for directly as would be the case were we living in a state.

by Lance on Apr 15, 2009 12:34 pm  

@ DA: These were the people on the jury, according to the Smithsonian's press release:

Ah, all bobos. Nobody with any knowledge of architecture. No wonder crap came out.

by Jasper on Apr 15, 2009 12:46 pm  

Lance

In principle you are somewhat correct.

except that Northern Virginia does not supply the emergency or fire & rescue services to these buildings.

There are many other concerns that DC proper needs to be brought in on- this is just one among many.

Also- while I do not favor the high sales taxes or income taxes in DC- I also am against the Smithsonian - and the law firms on K street- getting a free ride on local DC taxes. That makes it more onerous for those of us who live here.We should not be expected to carry the burden of a national expense to our own detriment.

It works both ways, you see.

by w on Apr 15, 2009 3:56 pm  

Devrouax-Purnell design was the best - a DC firm for

over 30 years.

The selected winner's design = boring

by Linda on Jun 8, 2009 2:59 pm