UrbanScape: The ICA

Boston 2012

Boston’s Waterfront is an artificial land gained from the sea in the XIX Century. Most of the land has never been occupied. While politis, community and developers decide this place’s destiny bug patches remain as parking lots.

The Institute of Contemporary Art designed by Diller, Scofidio and Renfro opened in 2006. It was the first building to be constructed in Fan Pier, a new development project in South Boston’s waterfront/ The Fan Pier developers plan to build a mix-use upscale neighborhood close to Downtown Boston. The museum was conceived as a catalyst to activate the urban life of the former industrial context. The Fan Pier development is half built and under construction.

Meanwhile the ICA connects its visitors with Boston Harbor but not with its immediate surroundings. The architects describe it” “The passage through the ICA is choreographed to dispense the view of Boston’s harbor in small controlled doses.” Nonetheless the question that remains open is if this building is the urban catalyst that was intended, or if it will reach its purpose when the site is completely developed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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