Natural look planned for Autry museum March 12, 2008 Autry museum in Griffith Park is poised to shed its historical look -- the white stucco, red tiles and bell tower of a Spanish Colonial mission -- in favor of new contours and colors meant to evoke the West's most harmonious constant: the natural landscap Excerpted from Los Angeles Times March 12, 2008, By Mike Boehm, Staff Writer "Plans for the Autry's expansion and renovation are under review by city agencies. Barring objections, museum President John Gray expects construction to start this year, with a reopening in 2011. The project, designed by Brenda Levin, the architect who oversaw the restoration and expansion of the Griffith Observatory, would increase galleries, classrooms and collection storage areas from about 110,000 square feet to 189,000 square feet... ...Levin took design cues from the landscape instead, emphasizing horizontal lines that conjure the wide-open expanses of the West. In place of the traditional Mission belfry would rise a 70-foot tower with steel ribs and long, vertical ribbons of curved translucent glass to reflect the sky by day and be lighted from within at night. In a potential new visual signature for the museum, Levin also aims to send wild horses galloping across the Autry's rear wall, which faces the Golden State Freeway. They would be emblazoned above the traffic in reds and yellows, on a screen of perforated metal about 100 feet long and 15 feet high. Taking inspiration from the land also means helping the museum blend into its park surroundings, Levin said in an interview. The parking lot at its current front doorstep would be replaced by green spaces, and parking would be tucked away behind the museum or in an out-of-sight gully south of the building... ..The Southwest Museum's historic-landmark original building in Mount Washington remains closed for seismic strengthening; its full renovation depends on further fundraising by the Autry that is not included in the campaign for the Griffith Park facility." Link: Natural look planned for Autry museum Education | Arts & Culture | Civic & Social | Urban Revitalization About Levin & Associates | News | Home