Imagine Tacoma: MoG BassAckward & Greened-up

After re-reviewing the massive heat island of Tollefson Plaza last week (but the City of Tacoma has embraced sustainability!), Imagine Tacoma looks at what the Museum of Glass ‘might’ be if it became a little more Mayan and a little less Egyptian:

Reduce the Concrete The original minimalist design has been significantly altered with the addition of multiple handrails, etc… – so why not remove most of the concrete paving and replace with plantings? The structure has been designed to accompany concrete and a live load of pedestrians – so it should be more than adequate to support a field of alpine succulents or similar. This would provide strong clarity to the existing walking routes around the roof to view the art and the environs (as accomplished so well by Arthur Erickson in the Robson Square in Vancouver, BC).

Add Art These fields of green can now hold a collection of exterior sculptures – and was this not the roof concept to begin with? (and fix Howard Ben Tre’s Fountain – this failure of action has gone well beyond embarrassing).

BassAckward And since we are entertaining what ‘might’ be – how about turning the interior of the museum back to front. The main entrance relocated to Dock Street with the elevator and stairway providing direct access to the museum from Dock Street (the Elderhostel mobs can disembark the tour bus direct to the front door), the Bridge of Glass (Free the Chihuly Bridge!) and the public parking garage below. This would allow the ‘public’ amenities of the museum to be at the main entrance – and the classroom becomes the gift shop, the gift shop becomes the classroom, and the café is relocated to an empty storefront along the Esplanade to allow for additional gallery space to be constructed. The ticket counter is already on wheels – so it should not be that difficult.

Such a reorganization would provide a clarity to the interior organization of the museum, increases safety and convenience for the entrance sequence, creates a more urban facility with a stronger functional connection to Dock Street and the Chihuly Bridge, provides for additional gallery space to the interior – and it can be transformed into the oasis from the surrounding concrete (rather than homage to it).