Video: Marin County Civic Center - Golden facia

[DavidC]

Frank Lloyd Wright Golden Fascia - (0:57)


David

[Paul Ringstrom]

https://www.designboom.com/architecture ... 1-05-2021/

[Paul Ringstrom]

Marin Civic Center shows its age at 60

https://www.marinij.com/2021/03/08/mari ... g-as-ever/

[SDR]

Spencer Michels is well-remembered in the Bay Area, at least; it is nice to hear from him again, in any context. A reporter's credibility is always on the line, however, no matter his seniority. I'm glad to see that he consulted---or at least quotes---Wright specialist Paul Turner; one could wish that he had checked some facts with him. To state that the building was ever contemplated as "roofless" is of course a stretch . . . or a simple misunderstanding of the history.

On a more positive note, quizzing building employees and users was a good move, as we learn of things not usually mentioned, most interestingly the tidbit about confusion resulting from similar spaces on consecutive floors not being located recognizably---a complaint that any planner or architect might learn from. Security and penetrability issues (smoke permeation ?) are of interest as well. I have no bone to pick with the author over Mr Wright's self-evident formalism, an issue perhaps more evident in the large-scale projects, few of which were built.

S

[Rood]

. To state that the building was ever contemplated as "roofless" is of course a stretch . . . or a simple misunderstanding of the history.

If my memory serves ... the original inner courtyard and skylit hallways were meant to be "roofless"

[SDR]

Yes---and that is doubtless the source of the misstatement. Not a biggie; but those not familiar with the building would be misled.

S