Museum Plaza in Louisville, Kentucky

At times I find myself calling Seattle Central Library a museum. A museum of modern architecture, of engineering science, of library art (the old catalogue cards are still in use, but look like artifacts), of rare books, of interior design, there are numerous reasons why I would make such a Freudian slip.

In Louisville, smart folks invited OMA to design a Museum Plaza. Beside a new museum, the building —which of course will be a work of art in itself— will house condominiums as well. Can't wait to see it. I wonder what slips the tour guides there will make. Joshua Prince Ramus, who heads the N.Y. office of OMA and was the hard hatted architect on site at Central SPL, will be the principle architect, responsible for the design.

OMA's City of Youth

OMA goes to Roma. Rem Koolhaas and Ellen van Loon will design a center for people under 30. An ancient market place, Mercati Generali, located close to the Forum and the Colloseum is the first historical part of town which will be renovated respecting the past. Innovative new structures will be combined with the existing architecture. In this center of 243.000 m2, shopping and entertainment will be combined. Gyms, discos, shops and theaters all surrounding a central plaza. Projected opening date is in 2008.