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Like a concrete aircraft carrier: was LA’s giant new $724m gallery really worth all the carbon emissions?

Built on tar swamps and two tortuous decades in the making, Lacma’s latest addition used twice as much metal as the Eiffel Tower. How did America supersize revered architect Peter Zumthor?

Like a concrete aircraft carrier: was LA’s giant new $724m gallery really worth all the carbon emissions?

TL;DR

  • The David Geffen Galleries at LACMA is a new $724 million structure designed by architect Peter Zumthor.
  • The building is a large concrete bridge-like structure spanning Wilshire Boulevard.
  • Construction was complex, taking two decades and facing delays and cost increases.
  • The design emphasizes transparency and a single-floor layout, with extensive use of concrete.
  • The gallery's environmental impact is significant, using substantial amounts of concrete and steel, exceeding that of the Eiffel Tower and a major viaduct.
  • The museum's curatorial approach is thematic rather than chronological, reflecting LA's diverse culture.
  • The building's design has been compared to mid-century California architecture and movie mogul homes.

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