Cincinnati - Starchitects

Thom Mayne and Daniel Libeskind contributed to Greater Cincinnati's growing rep as an architectural hot spot

By Sara Pearce

 

Add their works to those of Zaha Hadid (Contemporary Arts Center), Michael Graves (Riverbend Music Center, University of Cincinnati's Engineering Research Center), Peter Eisenman (UC's DAAP building), Frank O. Gehry (UC's Vontz Center for Molecular Studies) - and such historic architectural wonders as the Art Deco Union Terminal and Netherland Plaza, the historic Ingalls Building (built in 1903 at Fourth and Vine, the 16-story building was deemed a technical marvel as the first 'skyscraper' made of reinforced concrete) and John A. Roebling's classic suspension bridge - and you have an architectural 'aha' moment, along with the foundation for architectural tourism on a seriously grand scale.

 

Mayne garnered world attention when he won architecture's top prize, the Pritzker. He was here the day after the May 31 ceremony to look over progress on his monumental Campus Recreation Center at UC, which is slated to open in February. He appeared on 'Charlie Rose,' and Paris' Centre Pompidou will open a major exhibition of his work in March.

 

Libeskind's design for the Covington condo project Ascent at Roebling's Bridge, was noted in a lengthy Wall Street Journal trend story about name-brand architects turning to residential work.

 

Hadid's innovative Contemporary Arts Center continued to draw attention to Cincinnati. It was chosen as the cover of art publisher Phaidon's 'New Museums' and was one of 27 'notable museums around the world' featured in the coffee-table book. The building popped up again in 'Architecture: Art' from Prestel, another well-known art-book publisher, where it was described as 'sculptural and complex.'

 

Read full article here:

http://www.europaconcorsi.com/db/rec/inbox.php?id=8619

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CAC (Zaha Hadid):

 

River Bend Music Center & University of Cincinnati's Engineering Research Center (Michael Graves – Not a big fan of at all):

 

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Peter Eisenman (UC's DAAP building):

 

Frank O. Gehry (UC's Vontz Center for Molecular Studies):

 

 

Union Terminal (Roland A. Wank of Fellheimer and Wagner and Paul Philippe Cret. In 1933):

 

 

Netherland Plaza:

 

(Large Version, click below)

http://chrisglass.com/journal/images/2005/0321-omni-xl.jpg

 

Ingalls Building (built in 1903 at Fourth and Vine, the 16-story building was deemed a technical marvel as the first 'skyscraper' made of reinforced concrete):

 

John A. Roebling (suspension bridge 1865-1866 – later designed the Brooklyn Bridge):

 

Libeskind's – Ascent at Roebling:

for the love of god, stop referring to ghery as a starchitect........

GEHRY!! ^

 

I never thought of Riverbend being an "architectural marvel" but alas.

 

Might as well throw in Cincinnati Mills, Pappadeaux's, Bahama Breeze's turrets, and the Check Cash N' Go in Walnut Hills.

I think River Bend is a terrible venue.  About a third of the seats in the pavillion have obstructed views of the stage, and the "pillars" holding up the roof of the pavillion block the view from the lawn.  It's more of an architectural flop.  It is by far my least favorite music venue in Cincy.

At Riverbend they have the slope of the pavilion completely backwards. It should open up out into the lawn instead to improve the view for those out on the hill. And it shouldn't have so many broad supporting columns. Like the DTE Energy Music Theater in Clarkston, MI:

 

 

Surprised Samuel Hannaford didn't make the article.  Now he's a classic!

I agree, I would not point to Riverbend as an architectural marval.

Good article, but I would agree that leaving Hannaford out was a major mistake.

 

That shot of the interior of CUT is bizarre and disorienting!

Do they still have those 2-D Greek statues at Riverbend?  I haven't been there in at least ten years.