Drawing for the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Axonometric Color Study for Braodway and Quincy Street Elevations c. 20th century

Curator: This axonometric color study by James Stirling depicts the proposed design for the Arthur M. Sackler Museum. Look at the red and white banding! Editor: It almost feels like a playful confection, doesn't it? Yet, there's a severity implied by the architectural rendering style. Curator: Absolutely. The use of colored pencil emphasizes the materiality, almost mimicking the layering of construction itself. This drawing then becomes a part of the building’s production. Editor: And its reception, too. These design drawings played a crucial role in the debates surrounding the museum's public image and its place within the university's architectural landscape. Curator: Exactly. The drawing reveals the labor involved in not just constructing a building, but also in visualizing and selling the idea of it. Editor: It’s fascinating how a simple drawing can unpack complex negotiations around institutional identity and civic engagement. Curator: Yes, it highlights how the means of representation shapes our understanding of the built environment. Editor: A glimpse into how architectural projects gain legitimacy and permanence in the public sphere.