Others…
Each one of these projects has a story of its own at least as interesting as the architecture itself, narrowly defined and as shown in the photographs.
Boston Olympics: we were given the opportunity (by team leader Webb Nichols) for developing sketch proposals and four potential sites for hosting the Boston Olympics in 2004. The bid came to nothing but we had good fun thinking about it. The view shows the possibility of locating a 70,000 seat stadium at North Point and Wide Circle which at the time were completely vacant.
National Youth Service, Seychelles, 1980-81: I was involved in a team with Olivier LeBrun, Robin Murray and others, developing a high school system in the Seychelles. The curriculum was based on a holistic educational philosophy integrating intellectual development and practical skills. My role was to develop a master plan for six schools on as many islands; and in conjunction with the Ministry of Works, to build the first library and resource center, at Port Launay. A full description of the program can be read here (https://robinmurray.co.uk/new-page-2).
The Tower of the Winds, 1998: this was an unsolicited proposal to commemorate the millennium in Boston by building a tower on the end of Long Wharf. It was of course an homage to Tatlin’s Monument to the Fourth International (though I did not say that to potential sponsors) but more explicitly, it incorporated a weather vane and five types of timepiece: a sundial, a water clock, a mechanical clock, a caesium clock and a pulsar receiver. It was also an idea to give the public a wonderful view of the harbor and the city, a privilege usually limited to those few who live or work in the expensive real estate on the Boston waterfront.
The Aleppo Palace, 2019: I was invited by PRA and the owner of this White Castle Building to assist them in a full scale refurbishment of this little jewel (on the Historic Register) in Central Square Cambridge. This involved researching the history of the building itself and of its kin that had popped up in many places on the East Coast from the 1930’s onwards. Windows, doors, bricks and coping stones were all carefully negotiated with the Cambridge Historical Commission. The result was a new life for falafel takeout and an award for historical restoration.
Brockton Montello Park, 2004: the park was to reclaim a derelict space in the center of Brockton on a street corner. The design incorporated open park space for picnics and games, tree planting, lighting, a fountain misting sculpture and a path leading to a bridge that was to join this with another open space over the river. The bridge did not get built.
The Paul S. Russell Museum of Medical History and Innovation, Massachusetts General Hospital, 2011.
In 2008 I was asked by the facilities department at MGH to help them think through a proposal that had been made for developing a museum of medical history on the campus, to be completed by 2011, the 200th anniversary of the founding of the hospital. This involved visiting other medical museums in the US and the UK (none of which were actually in a hospital), developing a program, selecting architect and exhibit designers, and overseeing construction. Ribbon cutting by the Mayor and the eminent Dr. Paul Russell for whom the building was named, was executed with a nineteenth century fine toothed saw with an ivory handle, designed for amputations. Leers Weinzapfel were the architects.
Boston Olympic Stadium siting study. The concept was to build a stadium for 70,000 spectators that could later be disassembled and reduced to 30,000. One of the sites examined was North Point -now fully developed with commercial and laboratory buildings. [click on right image]
The first NYS village at Port Launay was built by students under the supervision of Ministry of Works technicians. The Library and Resource Center is on the right. Presidents René and Nyerere visited.[click on center and right images]
Massachusetts General Hospital Paul S Russell Museum of Medical History and Innovation | Cambridge Street frontage
Photo: Anton Grassl. [click on image]
View of Tower of Winds from harbor [click on image]
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