| Note: these photographs were taken on two different days in July 2002. One day, a cloudy Monday, the museum was closed; therefore, the "wings" (technically called the "brise soleil") were down. The next day was bright and sunny; the museum was open and thus the wings were raised. The dramatic setting of the Milwaukee Art Museum on Lake Michigan is also the site of Eero Saarinen's 1957 War Memorial and an earlier art center (later renamed the Milwaukee Art Museum) built in 1957 by the Milwaukee firm of Kahler, Slater, and Fitzhugh Scott. Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the winner of the architectural competition, designed a building to enhance the waterfront views. This architect, with an engineering background as well, is not only a prolific designer of bridges of various types, but has designed train stations and airport, opera houses, sports facilities, among other types of architecture. His works are often curvilinear and allude to natural forms. Some works are mobile as well, like the brise soleil covering the atrium of the reception hall of this museum, which in the photos on this page is in the lowered position. The sculptural quality of this work is achieved through reinforced concrete, painted white. See also the Montjuic Communications Tower in Barcelona. |
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Views from the west of the museum with the footbridge spanning Lincoln Memorial Drive |
Views west of the museum, looking toward or on the footbridge | ||
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Left and center: Views of the side looking from the War Memorial southwest; right: from the north looking southeast (the lakeside) | ||
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Left and center: views of the entrance; right: the South Terrace--like a ship's prow | ||
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