RSS FeedNew Smithsonian Gathering Spot Is Courtyardtastic
PQ Resident contributed to this post
PQ Living got a sneak look at the new Robert & Arlene Kogod Courtyard at the Reynolds Center (National Portrait Gallery/American Art Museum) yesterday. The constant morning rain couldn’t dampen our spirits as we spent a few hours talking to the architects, sipping cups of java and enjoying the beautiful renovations that compliment this Greek Revival style building (completed in 1867) Walt Whitman called “that noblest of Washington Buildings.”
Simply put, the Norman Foster designed canopy and courtyard is spectacular. It has a light, airy, spacious feeling to it that radiates calm. The ficus and olive trees bring the outdoors inside, even on a day as overcast and rainy as yesterday. Sounds echo mutely around the space and the contrast from the ceiling to the floor makes its way from light (sky) to moderate (museum walls) to dark (dark and light black granite floor). Water features best described as wave pools can be turned on and off as needed to set the right mood. Lights placed in the intersections of the canopy’s ceiling spars burn like daytime stars.
Phrases like “floating canopy”, “undulated” and “speed varying water features” were uttered numerous times as the architects spoke to what they had tried to accomplish. This is clearly a great addition to the neighborhood and we expect it to be one of the best places to visit or just hang out. The Courtyard opens to the public this Sunday with a big bash sponsored by Target from Noon to 6 pm. There will be music, food (for purchase) and hands-on art fun to celebrate the day.
If you need your daily fix of undulation, then this is your place. Click (more…) below to see the photographic evidence…
National Portrait Gallery/American Art Museum
8th and F Streets, NW (Metro: Gallery Place-Chinatown)
11:30 am to 7 pm daily – free admission
202-633-1000
Most amazing about the courtyard are the multiple environments you can feel from being inside the same space. We could go on about the free public Wi-Fi, the 28K square feet, the 176 seat cafe, the 864 unique glass panels but pictures say a thousand words so here they are !!!
Got Tour Groups?
A group of children watched the events from a window of the Portrait Gallery.
Got trees?
Who needs the National Arboretum?
Got water?
The shallow pools are fun, but we wonder about teams of kids going water stomping.
Got light?
It’s always sunny in the courtyard!
Got undulation?
Undulation was the word of the day; we’re not even sure what it means, but it’s fun to say.
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this is so exciting and beautiful. i cant wait to go marinate there.