De Young Museum, Herzog & De Meuron

The Newly Rebuilt De Young Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park opened for visitors October 15, 2005. It was designed by Pritzker Prize winning Swiss architects, Herzog & De Meuron. The tripartite structure of the buildings that "rub against each other like continental shelves," the dramatic angles and the twisted observation tower seem to provide commentary on the notion of living with earthquakes. That is fitting as the original museum was irreparably damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta quake, and hence has given rise to the highly acclaimed new museum, which has achieved instant monument status. When I visited the museum, the day after Thanksgiving, it was mobbed with visitors. It was inspiring and hopeful to see people of all ages and demographics so clearly moved by the architecture of the building. Everywhere I looked people where staring, pointing, taking photos, and trying to articulate what this building made them feel...even children! If you find yourself in San Francisco, you have to-have to- have to go there! I'm no Julius Schulman, but take a look at the photos I took and try to make it there in person if you can.