James S. Russell

Architecture Critic, Journalist and Consultant

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Museums as a crucible for design

Perez Goes Tropical With $131 Million Art Oasis in Miami” on Perez Miami Art Museum, by Herzog & De Meuron, Bloomberg, 11/22/2013

Kimbell’s $135 Million Expansion Has Light, Needs Soul” on expansion of Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, by Renzo Piano, Bloomberg 11/18/2013

“Wal-Mart Heiress’s $1.2 Billion Castle Has Warhol, Glass Bridge,” on Crystal Bridges museum, Bentonville, Ark., designed by Moshe Safdie, Bloomberg, 10/25/2011

“Big Museum, Small Pond,” on Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, by Safdie Architects, Architectural Record, 1/2012

“Flying Carpet Lands at Chicago Art Institute” on addition to Art Institute of Chicago by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Bloomberg, 5/14/2009

“Renzo Piano, Favored Museum Designer, Wears Out His Welcome” on laziness of museum directors who want Piano to duplicate past triumphs, Bloomberg, 2/6/2008

“De Montebello’s Met Design Legacy: Glorious Courts, Dim Halls” on the mixed blessings of the long reign of architect Roche Dinkeloo at the Metropolitan Museum, Bloomberg 1/14/2008

“Eccentric Barnes Collection Faces Uncertain Future,” Dilemma of moving treasured art collection from historic suburban Paul Cret home to Philadelphia location that may assure its future, Bloomberg, 8/20/2007

“New Seattle Park Sparkles Over Bay; Museum Wing Disappoints” Olympic Sculpture Park, Weiss/Manfredi, architect, and addition to Seattle Art Museum, Allied Works, architect, Bloomberg, 1/19/2007

“Whitney Plans Village Branch; Dia Dithers; MoMA Grows” on impact of Whitney Museum abandoning addition by Renzo Piano Building Workshop in favor of site held by Dia Art Foundation, and Museum of Modern Art’s plan for growth beyond its just-completed overhaul, Bloomberg, 11/28/2006

“Boston’s New $41 Million Art Museum Brings the Harbor Light Inside” Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, Diller, Scofidio + Renfro, architect, Bloomberg, 2/5/2006

“Architecture Culture Versus Museum Culture” essay on conflict between expressive museum architecture and the artwork it displays: Design criticism, Architectural Record, 12/2005

“The Experience Music Project is Frank O. Gehry’s Paean to Rock ‘n Roll Rebellion” design reporting and criticism, Architectural Record, 8/2000

“Renzo Piano Makes a Lively Dialog Between Architecture and Art” on the Beyeler Museum, Basel, Switzerland, Architectural Record, 5/1998

“To Mannerism Born” on the Sainsbury Wing, National Gallery, London, Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates, architect, Architectural Record, 10/1991

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About James Russell

James S. Russell is an architecture critic, journalist, teacher and consultant. He's the author of the book, The Agile City, and has written for publications like Architectural Record, Bloomberg News, NY Times and more. Continue reading

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