Of a trio of art museum designs slated for construction in the next two to three years — the Tampa Museum of Art, The Arts Center and the Salvador Dalí Museum — we’re most excited about the Dalí’s new home. (Alas, the TMA might have gotten the nod if it weren’t for word that an environmentally friendly green roof had already been “value engineered” out of the project.) While the peanut gallery will no doubt be quick to coin a snarky nickname or two for the Dalí structure — e.g., “The Blob” — its marriage of a drooping, bubble-like glass element with sleek, straight lines is the closest thing we have to destination architecture in Tampa Bay. Thanks to architecture firm H.O.K., the museum will be laughing all the way to the bank.
This article appears in Sep 10-16, 2008.
