The best interventions in historic buildings are those that are liked by the majority of the public, and this one from the Royal Ontario Museum has gone around the world… There must be a reason!
The truth is that we technicians are a bit «hooligans» and as soon as they let us, we try to do different things. Break the rules of the visual, the aesthetic, the gravity and even innovate at every step. Surely you have met someone (I hope) who never feels happy with what he sees: “Well, I would have done this, or that, or it would never occur to me to leave it like that.” In short, we are rebels by training, it cannot be helped.
Now, this “hooliganism”, when it is enlightened and meritorious, ends up being the axis of many works of art. This is the case we are dealing with today, none other than the largest and most important museum in Canada: The Royal Ontario Museum.
This is the Royal Ontario Museum
The building was founded in 1914 and has a confluence of art, culture and nature from around the world. Specifically, it boasts of having 13 million works of art, cultural objects and specimens of natural history (far more than in any home).
Back in 2007 it was inaugurated after a transformation that has gone around the world. A reform of incredible and truly daring depth, which came from the hand of Daniel Libeskind, an architect of whom, hopefully, we will see some more buildings in these pages.
An impressive renovation
The performance was executed by expanding the heritage architectural building and was done through the name of Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, an art patron who donated $30 million just to have his name immortalized (I would have written a book).
Of course, the dynamic exterior shape of the building has won the hearts of all Canadians and many architecture lovers. In total, the construction has 36,050 square meters, of which 9,200 were the Libeskind expansion. Who on his website tells us that the museum attracts more than a million visitors a year, almost nothing.
Crystals from the Royal Ontario Museum
The intervention is clear and defines itself. The designer created a strident structure that appears to be crystals, extracted directly from the mines in this part of the American continent.
Thus, the five volumes created merge at their core, leaving impossible angles for the viewer. This creates an iconic building like no other in the city and, probably, one of the most interesting in the world.
An amazing interior
Inside, different bridges allow you to admire the old and new facades, accessing a large central atrium that they have called Gloria Hyacinth Chen (I know what you think, now). Said atrium, or patio, separates the two buildings, and creates a space in which to hold events of all kinds.
The local supporting architects, the company Bregman+ Hamann Architects, informs us that local companies had to make an effort to implement the elements built in Germany.
Advanced technology to run The Crystal
In other words, to execute “The Crystal” they had to implement innovative strategies with the technologies in the area. A challenge that all participants succeeded in, of course, the main contractor, Vanbots Construction. This got to work to link the five large self-supporting structures, which simulate supporting the old building (although nothing could be further from the truth).
The intervention not only created an additional 9,000 square meters of exhibition space, it added a new entrance and a new lobby, a souvenir shop and museum details. And the best thing always, three restaurants. In addition, they also entered the historic building to renovate up to ten galleries.
It should be added that for the construction of the building, a reinforced concrete building, the Queen Elizabeth II Terrace, was demolished, taking advantage of its foundations to raise the windows… Be careful, even if they are called that, only 25 percent of its surface is made of translucent material . The rest is burnished aluminum brought directly from the company with which Frank Gehry himself works and designs his titanium structures.
Impossible walls, steel and concrete
Noteworthy is that only one wall executed is vertical, the rest have angles that are difficult to understand and execute, and which had to be generated with 3D design software, such as Rhino or GSA.
In numbers, more than 3,500 tons of steel were placed in beams, which would be much more expensive today (it must be said), and more than 9,300 cubic meters of magnificent concrete.
To finish this article, we must reflect on how new interventions in old buildings must be daring, almost disrespectful, bordering on the stentorian, but extremely versatile and productive, generous with space, capable of making new generations identify, while The previous ones feel grateful for the maintenance and care of the old.