Word: pei
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Every stage of the Grand Louvre renovation has had its controversy, and this one is no exception. When in 1989 Mitterrand first unveiled architect I.M. Pei's modernistic glass pyramid in the the museum's vast central courtyard, the work brought accusations of aesthetic heresy. This time Pei has offended some observers by combining the museum with an underground shopping gallery that includes 13 fast-food counters and 60 boutiques, ranging from Lalique crystal to Esprit sportswear and a Virgin Records Megastore. The new commercial space is elegant and features at its center an inverted Pei pyramid, which echoes...
...Richelieu wing is only part of the $1 billion Grand Louvre project, which is likely to last three more years. But last week's opening, which also - marked the museum's 200th anniversary, completed Pei's vision of a subterranean crossroads linking every wing to a central starting point. Before the renovation, the entrances were confusing, and the Richelieu wing, occupied by the Finance Ministry, had been subdivided into a warren of cluttered, low- ceilinged offices. Apart from the Napoleon III apartments, the entire structure had to be gutted and rebuilt by an international team of architects under Pei...
...collection -- including jewel-encrusted gold crowns and carved ivory statuettes -- in handsome, well-lit glass display cases mounted on stone pedestals and trimmed in chrome. The cases, which are used in all the new areas, are one of the Richelieu wing's most effective unifying elements because they echo Pei's refined, understated decor...
...Some of Pei's finest achievements are the most practical. In contrast to the hodgepodge that reigned in the old painting galleries, he arranged the rooms to create a succession of schools and periods. He also conceived the sleek black escalator that runs from the underground level up to the top floor. Set in a vast hall of polished stone, it is the central nexus that links all the departments to one another. Thanks to the large windows on the landings, it offers dramatic perspectives of the grand outdoor Pyramid and the majestic facades of the other wings. Wherever possible...
Alumni also elected six new Harvard Alumni Association directors: Merom Brachman '58, Nancy D. Israel '76, Joseph J. O'Donnell '67, Deval L. Patrick '78, T'ing C. Pei '65 and Ciji Ware...