Comments on: de Young Museum by Herzog & de Meuron: The Copper Killer http://www.critiquethis.us/2009/12/17/de-young-museum-by-herzog-de-meuron-the-copper-killer/ Critique This is an architecture blog in a magazine format which critically examines the state of architecture within the United States. Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:56:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: James http://www.critiquethis.us/2009/12/17/de-young-museum-by-herzog-de-meuron-the-copper-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-1723 James Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:17:20 +0000 http://www.critiquethis.us/?p=1716#comment-1723 From what I understand of copper runoff, and based on my research, copper runoff is an issue whether the copper is patina or not. (not really sure of the word usage of patina, the dictionary says it is a noun, so if I turn it into a verb I apologize). Based on my research, again, the runoff that the de Young Museum produces, is the amount that is actually serviced by RWQCP. I will add the disclaimer that I am an architect and not a scientist, but I feel confident based on my findings that the views presented in this article are fact. The problem is that RWQCP can only remove so much copper from the water. Copper pipes are an issue, but if you run the water for a few minutes on hot, all of the 'runoff' from the pipes will be removed. The problem when we are talking about the water supply of the city is that no matter how long you leave the water running, copper pipes or not, you are still accessing water with high concentrations of copper. Lastly, you are right about the copper patina at the de Young Museum, I believe that we will not see the de Young Museum as a green monster until we are long gone. From what I understand of copper runoff, and based on my research, copper runoff is an issue whether the copper is patina or not. (not really sure of the word usage of patina, the dictionary says it is a noun, so if I turn it into a verb I apologize). Based on my research, again, the runoff that the de Young Museum produces, is the amount that is actually serviced by RWQCP. I will add the disclaimer that I am an architect and not a scientist, but I feel confident based on my findings that the views presented in this article are fact.

The problem is that RWQCP can only remove so much copper from the water. Copper pipes are an issue, but if you run the water for a few minutes on hot, all of the ‘runoff’ from the pipes will be removed. The problem when we are talking about the water supply of the city is that no matter how long you leave the water running, copper pipes or not, you are still accessing water with high concentrations of copper.

Lastly, you are right about the copper patina at the de Young Museum, I believe that we will not see the de Young Museum as a green monster until we are long gone.

]]> By: Tyler http://www.critiquethis.us/2009/12/17/de-young-museum-by-herzog-de-meuron-the-copper-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-1708 Tyler Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:43:45 +0000 http://www.critiquethis.us/?p=1716#comment-1708 can you remove my last post? I think the copper will patina, but I can't figure out what color. Guess I will just wait and see can you remove my last post? I think the copper will patina, but I can’t figure out what color. Guess I will just wait and see

]]> By: Tyler http://www.critiquethis.us/2009/12/17/de-young-museum-by-herzog-de-meuron-the-copper-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-1707 Tyler Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:38:56 +0000 http://www.critiquethis.us/?p=1716#comment-1707 Phew, you posted a good amount of info on copper pollution...so i guess as long as we don't grow crops in an area that gets direct runoff or drink the runoff water we should be ok? The de Young will NEVER patina, so it will probably not effect the water around it is my guess. Too bad though, i would like to see it patina... Phew, you posted a good amount of info on copper pollution…so i guess as long as we don’t grow crops in an area that gets direct runoff or drink the runoff water we should be ok? The de Young will NEVER patina, so it will probably not effect the water around it is my guess. Too bad though, i would like to see it patina…

]]> By: Tyler http://www.critiquethis.us/2009/12/17/de-young-museum-by-herzog-de-meuron-the-copper-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-1706 Tyler Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:25:38 +0000 http://www.critiquethis.us/?p=1716#comment-1706 Thank you for the in-depth review. I did not realize how much copper runoff was an issue in some regions. I am curious though as to how much copper is a problem and to what extent it can be damaging when it does show up in our water. Copper pipes? Im no expert. I visited the museum about 18 months ago, and I did not like the architecture. The proportions seemed off, and it certainly has no civic presence that I think this building type should have. Personally I would not describe the organizational geometry as sophisticated, but rather obscure or overly complex nearing the point of being capricious. I do like the skin, but I do not appreciate it being applied so ubiquitously, and without much articulation. For me, it would be better to introduce another material, which I think gets back to the proportion issue for me and this being one monolithic chunk of copper. Thank you for the in-depth review. I did not realize how much copper runoff was an issue in some regions. I am curious though as to how much copper is a problem and to what extent it can be damaging when it does show up in our water. Copper pipes? Im no expert.
I visited the museum about 18 months ago, and I did not like the architecture. The proportions seemed off, and it certainly has no civic presence that I think this building type should have. Personally I would not describe the organizational geometry as sophisticated, but rather obscure or overly complex nearing the point of being capricious.
I do like the skin, but I do not appreciate it being applied so ubiquitously, and without much articulation. For me, it would be better to introduce another material, which I think gets back to the proportion issue for me and this being one monolithic chunk of copper.

]]> By: White Noise: Text and Criticism (Viking Critical Library) (Paperback) : Sacred Clone http://www.critiquethis.us/2009/12/17/de-young-museum-by-herzog-de-meuron-the-copper-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-1687 White Noise: Text and Criticism (Viking Critical Library) (Paperback) : Sacred Clone Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:20:44 +0000 http://www.critiquethis.us/?p=1716#comment-1687 [...] de Young Museum by Herzog & de Meuron: The Copper Killer | A … [...] [...] de Young Museum by Herzog & de Meuron: The Copper Killer | A … [...]

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