More than two decades after planning the transformation of Los Angeles County's art museum – including more than a decade work with the architect Peter Zumthor and five years of construction – the new Lacma building is finally accessible to the public.
Well, somehow.
For a limited time (3rd to July 7th), Members of Lacma and local children (on July 6th) Can receive a preview of the building – officially called the David Geffen Galeries – before the art is installed and the full museum opening for April 2026 is planned.
The preliminary views of the new Wilshire Boulevard of the new concrete and glass building Started with style last week With three nights of performances with composers, bandleader and saxophonist Kamasi Washington, present his Six Bode suite Harmony of the differenceWith the help of more than 100 musicians.
The building has exposed a reasonable proportion of criticisms – from the costsin addition Selection of building materialsOn the appearance of the design. But it has too Some big supporters.
We were excited to hear about their impressions of the new building from participants of the preliminary views and people who live in the neighborhood. That is why we received your reactions in an early preview night at Lacma this week:
“It's fabulous”
Holly Marie Lennon Durivage (L) and Terrence Charles Durivage Lennon (R) outside of the new David Geffen -Galerien in Lacma.
“I love it” was the first reaction to the appearance of the outside of the building in North Hollywood, Holly Marie Lennon Durivage.
Her husband Terrence added: “I do it too. It has a kind of Jetsons, you know? This new, frequent appearance of the gallery that goes through Wilshire. I think it has a really nice aesthetic.”
Holly was pleased that the new building of Lacmas seemed added Pavilion for Japanese art: “I think it has a similar aesthetics. It is very low and bent and a lot of glass. I find it fabulous, so we look forward to going in. We see this little piece, but I find it exciting and I think it's great for Los Angeles.”
“As if it were ai”
Lacma members will receive a preview of the new David Geffen-Galerien from July 3 to 7.
Miracle Mile Resident Pep Love's first reaction to the building: “It almost looks like it was AI.”
It also reminded him as some “strange” buildings in Culver City, which were designed by Architect Eric Owen Moss.
Although he saw the construction of the building every day, he said that he needed for a while “what they built that went across the street was also part of the new structure.”
His general impression: “It gives me a vision of this futuristic vision for LA.”
“Amöbenmonster”
Savannah Merritt (L) and John Buckley (R) were among the first to be seen in the new David Geffen Galleries.
The Lacma members Savannah Merritt and John Buckley came for a preview from the east side and said they were impressed by what they saw.
Merritt said that one of her first thoughts to go to the building was: “Amoeba monster. It looks like this cool concrete creature that keeps art.”
She added that it alone: ”It is really very, very cool, but together with the other buildings in the Museum Row it is much more iconic than this collective.”
As for the criticism of the design?
“It is easy if there is any kind of new building or public art that people like to choose and years later they are completely good with him and love it,” said Buckley. “You know, the Eiffel Tower was This terrible, ugly thing When it was used and is now one of the most beautiful things in the world. “
“A bunker look” (but also) “It's great”
Kin Lee (L) and Sywn Hsiao (R) Before a preview event for Lacma's new David Geffen -Galerien.
Monica Bushman / Put
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“I think it's great,” said Kin Lee, a Lacma member based in Irvine. “The old buildings really showed their age and this new building looks modern and maybe it will be another landmark.”
He also had some mixed feelings.
“It doesn't seem to be as open and welcome as we would hope, because it is a kind of bunker look with all the concrete,” he said.
But he also hoped that the one -story design of the galleries is an improvement from the old buildings and previously had to go up several floors to see the Latin American art collection: “Who could find this if they are not deliberately looking and know that there is a goal?”
In a preview of the new David Geffen -Galerien on July 1, 2025.
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At the moment Lee said that he wanted to reserve the judgment for at least three to five years before he dared to call whether the building would be “failure or success”.
“I mean, attention attracts attention,” he said. “But it old? We don't know.”