LA's $700M Art Gallery: A Bold Vision or Architectural Misstep?

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Lacma) is on the brink of completing its new $720 million building, a project that has stirred significant debate within the art and architectural communities. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, the structure has been both lauded and criticized for its unconventional design.

A Controversial Design

The new Lacma building, replacing four older structures, features massive concrete walls and has been likened to a "freeway overpass" and an "amoebic pancake". Its construction on tar-filled land near the LaBrea Tar Pits, known for ancient fossils, added complexity and cost, including the discovery of thirteen sabre tooth tiger skulls during excavation.

Challenges and Criticisms

• Art Display Concerns: The concrete walls pose a unique challenge for hanging art, a point of contention among critics.
• Design Evolution: Initially envisioned as an all-black structure resembling a tar pit, the building will now remain in raw concrete gray.
• Public and Donor Backlash: The project saw a major donor withdraw support over disputes about the permanent collection's display.

A Vision for the Future

Lacma's CEO, Michael Govan, defends the design as a "non-hierarchical" space that reinvents art history for the 21st century. The gallery's layout encourages visitors to "curate their own journey", with exhibits organized around themes rather than traditional categories.

Support and Skepticism

While figures like Brad Pitt have praised the design, critics remain unconvinced. Art critic Christopher Knight has been particularly vocal, questioning the practicality of the concrete walls and the reduction in gallery space compared to the demolished buildings.

Looking Ahead

Set to open in 2026, the David Geffen Galleries will test whether Zumthor and Govan's vision can transcend its controversies to become a beloved cultural landmark.