Gap Founder Donald Fisher Revises Museum Plans
Filed under: Art

Gap founder Donald Fisher has scaled back the plans for his museum in San Francisco's Presidio to appease those who found the museum's first planned design a bit overwhelming. Fisher unveiled his plans for a contemporary art museum at the end of 2007. The large modern white box composed of white masonry interspersed with glass to allow people outside to view some of the art within didn't sit well with locals. The new design is a bit more restrained and in keeping with its surroundings. It has a low pavilion with a landscaped roof and, blends in with rather than dominates the historic park and its brick barracks buildings. The new design by WRNS Studio is now shorter than the rooflines of the barracks and is 24,000 square feet smaller.
The Fishers are hoping to convince critics, San Franciscans, and regulatory bodies such as the National Park Service that the museum can be beneficial for the park. The museum is just part of the Presidio Trust's plan for the Main Post, which will also be home to an expanded theater and a hotel. Public presentations for the Main Post and museum proposal will be held in April and more information can be found at the Presidio website.
Judging by the stream of comments on the article on SF Gate about this museum it appears that many citizens feel very strongly about whether Donald and Doris Fisher should be allowed to build any structure in the Presidio. Some see it as an ego move and think the city would be better served if the Fishers would donate their substantial contemporary art collection to an existing local museum such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
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