Posted by Will Hayes on August 28, 2002 at 16:48:14:In Reply to: ArchWeek - Kimmel Center Civics posted by Kevin Matthews on August 28, 2002 at 12:22:52:
I live just a few blocks from the Kimmel Center, and while I was a vocal critic for a while, I've grown to actually rather like it.
While it is a grand and dignified space, It has a populist sensibility and is refreshingly free from much of the elitism and snobbery which is characteristic of places one traditionally goes to see an orchestra (a character that the author seems to endorse). It is a much more welcoming environment for those who are NOT 'clad in tuxedos and evening gowns' than, say, the Kennedy Center in Washington, or the Academy of Music a few doors down.
I believe that all of this was part of the vision for the Kimmel as a regional performing arts center, and one that was successfully realized.
It's interesting that the author is so critical of the building's "one-way" orientation towards the center of the city to the north and not to the lower income areas to the distant south (which is actually not true - the building has major entrances on both its' street frontages) but doesn't note that the building is infinitely more accessible to the common man than a traditional enclave of high culture.
The Kimmel Center's "Velvet Rope" is located, not between the street and the interior - as the author suggests is preferable - but inside the plaza between the two performance spaces, where one enters into one of the two performance halls.
The interstitial & surrounding internal plaza, as well as the fantastic roof garden, are freely accessible to the public, and there are frequent smaller concerts and performances in the plaza which are free and available to anyone who want to step in from the street.All-in-all, a good showing for Mr. Vinoly, in my opinion.
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