Inspirations: a Review of the Brochstein Pavilion at Rice University

FALL2008.cite 0 i m t a s A R t a c i s M I f i i b i m b s s n n o u y h h q a i r r r g o p i a a l T m t m r s l r o h o c c d t a e a e v a m h u m n a i i y c a n e t n h l n e d v i o v h h t o s d n u s n g i p a a f o o t p s r c m c s a s d t s t r t p m o a s e g a t i i q i i e e t e o w o v a r r l a s l a f j t t e e u l i e t n n i u r y n l e i u u w a a l y a e o d r d e e i m l l b s a c c y l m r a o i f i t e i o , t n b e i t n r s g s n n r i n e l h l t n t e t e c c u i l y d i s u f h . i . a x n i r a c c t a t s m h e t S p m A i s c t h t t e d a h a s r p i e u e o t y p t e t n s e e s s c r e l n n r e u s a u a q s t e n n a e s c r a n i , a c e h i v . n k u a a o n s o t t g i f i T r a l c m s t . i s n l T m o d d t a a a r s i e a h a l . n n o r a e p r l . a c p s a h , g T e m n y d o u h s l i o e b a f u W l d i s r e h y s i u c t e s l o r , m i t t ’ m n i o e n e s l o c s e t t c n l o l u s c u p o e i t y l n i h f e o i t f s a e S n l l l u e a m a o m e i u d n o s i n s a t u r n n t t r i h t m : d r t b m n i g c c i r u v c f c a r z p s b d s l p t o h u n e h o a t e c i o i a l e a t r o l l - t a n i e l o n s t a h o x t f n a i u e p y b i c e t m r r s t d e a u s h a e e c e a e c n a m r s c s i p l m t l e e r i , n t s o u p , t r r p b s h e r i s p l m u n m u P e r o e i o g b r a b t t d a e a r p o o l t o n p i u d p r f l a a h l g f p h t n r l o n t h i s l f h a i y i B r o o l e e p s o t s d a p a h y n r s m r e y l t l e e c g m . - i a s a t l h d l a y e r I n e f p e a g d t y - e b t a o e c k i t p , s e b n h i o c r s a s b f h w i e f c a p c s e t e n r o u u a a x n n i l e e d y o h e h a g o n v n p n t r a n c a d s n t m e c w i t l f i a l o p d - t y t k r o o b a s b e p h y t l s r , i n d f s r v - y n b s e s , o . a y v r e a m s a k a e r p i y T t t d g l i e n i t d t y a i l s s m n e t a y r h e a e l d h i c l e r r r p n i x c r i n n i a t l o e f n h g r r c r c l t e o m t r o e l i o a c h e P e i i r t t d a m r b b a n m a l d c i t n a t y u i g o l s s e a t m e R c h , b e o t l e . e t l t a s e o l a a h c o h d a r s o o T n e a d i n l l k s t e i e e c f P e s t u o s i r d t a h c d e s e o m , s f p r e m r r m c i e i 6 e t t r e i f e f o r v a s e h s . l e r 5 w i a a t b o r t p e u t e l d e n c e a l i m u e t a n a p A l m o t v f e b r l w n t i r c b e r g r a s s o a h ’ e a e t w e t e r s s . t d i l y n t c i e t c t s a i t o I i t e i s e h u r i t s c l e s s n t e s r h t f h r m e s n h n o h i r a , s s s r a r n i 6 e n s t s n i t b i o o n w a i r d r t a e c n u o d l i g u a i l s t u e s t e o h l . u f t i d k t g b o a i n , , c n l s e i l g r l d h t r c n 0 t T c u t a g t R h e h o u e h h b r h i i . i a t r i i r n a n e t r i e b r T n a b n s c o s a k a e h 0 g u o c l c t s . i o i c n d l h e e d u u o s N m e i g c t y d g e t o e n u e n n t b i i b a 0 n l l — a u s d y , f y s i m h H e . . t l n d s p l i e m t o t u t l t 1 i g h a r d n i i h o s o n r 1 e o i e k e i u e a r n i t h b n t o s e s e o l e s a r k i i r y e s s r r t g s o l l o , l v o e i a t e h o n g a o n w e n s h r n f i t h f n ’ r e - s t o - - , / a c c C e c i r w c p b n a h o u o r n e u t a h a g t e r m c a r d r A r e l e i l s a r i e o l U R a P B t e b d t f r o m l l c r . p e u a y e a a a r a v o l e s f s g n B o i . y a s r r f r ç , f e n t i o s s n t e , e t a o s g s e n r R a r i o m n p a n m t c o i a i i f r e d e R s c t t n o o a t e k w i r m o s h r i i a x v c e s M o f r n n e d p t o i i i l , h o p h . e i e s n s e v e l t n a i v o o c s p s e , u t i a l t A e i s t e g a r n t . o t n a c t s n r t r r r a a l s r l e o l e e a r b E r i i d a e h s n c t n i a r s c g i r b e a n a o r l u s s e n p v e s d o a e e h t e M a i o p d r s c m d e i s a g s n d e t t a n h t t o e i t s . n o w c a e e s s h r s n e e n a e s c a n e , I s t c , e o i v p S n e e t g t p e p t t s e a w a h i f h o t m n a e g f e o e l r r d i o n b f e u t a t e r n , o o A s , h u f o o e e i a e d c r u w t t i n o e l l n s r d i , y t t n r r e t h n a f p h g r t m h , g m t o n o d i h c r e o t i e t . t a h e h l e r s f e y o h i y c c e t a h t s f s n d i a p f e P h e o c o g o a g m e n i w l d i d n a s h r n n u o o h h s a d f d p v s e e t e a h o o d i f d t i l s r n u s i f i h l c w n t r r a o t d l a g u i e o h a s n t i h g y i m c e r o h s a i h w t e w c n a c a s t n t p ’ f n n n a t s e h t t n d t i i a e a t f h l u P d n c t o b i h r i d i h r c h c e d e c ( a m e s h f o u d e a a t h o d a t s r b i h m ’ w t s t t i e u l s m a f i l h t h s e y t ) e b n d e d h h i m s w a s v a e r r i y a t k e i a i i g e l e s t s b h n n s t l s o a N k s c , l r P e y f i p e g l a c o b o a r e t a o r a l a h a o s l e f l l u a , f i r r r a r i i s b l n r a i s o s m s e g e v a m i t c f t t c a l l d r h e a b e i h e - a a d i s s m - d l e r e s r d n o l e o - e : ’ s l c e s - - - l s a - u a o d s l - , THOMAS PHIFER AND PARTNERS T B h r o o c m h a s s t e P i n h i P f e a r v i a l i n o d n P , a r t n e r s , 2 0 0 8 . i s t p e a a w P b g d S G a a m q s i h s n n n r l e u A o u e h e l e s o c s o n d d d s m a r a e i l , i h N r . u f l s e s m l n e r . e i a p A u i s i B r l t t a t A n r d B a r p i e i y i P s u t s t n a a e l c a t h A l o s b l i a t o c l y r b t o n y l t e . e c v e u i o d , f h u c s d r t o F i m n r m f i i i o u t t l m n a o i a s t h o i g S n n h o t s i t l c n o g r e n r A h e m i s n a r r n f s . i s s e i b o e e r i n v N h m ) o A o r l s f o a l o u , e f h o a m c n d t o t c a A l s a h t e r h o f c d o u f i l i l o w o r s l u o A , S n t a c c o b a o r f n h n l a A h i s a o w p u d m s t n e s r c s n c h e p b i i N h c a i e u m l b n o a T o f e h e s d a c t o t e p s u s A a t o h i t r i i p t e w r t y i r c n s o e h l p e A e o l i e . t o n i g e e a n l w c n a d c h w V a f e i s t n g i ( r o p c e u h c n t t S i o l d t e y s o e i o r i i r o p e M r b u s n , t i o e n e j k j e n a t e o c a b t p i c o h c u i r m o r s l l e y a e s o f l e a t i e l t s e n c f n d y s p f y l r e i a n u o a s , n t d i e t a u o t o u , a t r l m u a i h t n . m r y t t g a n h t e r n a e , d S h e n r e r p m a d i l d l g o a A r e J o d i i t r a t e c a u g f h a h N f e f h p l N r t c p o y h n a o l c e A i e e p e y i u a o c o r t i d A e h o s s r r n k n m r t n g h r d i r o a s t o A e n e e a n . e i o i . a v o s s f z f s d c g t T ’ i . m c F e s i f s e i z t a t s e n , h c i h h o a a w g v a e a i - r e e o a i l d n a r - y i s a e r l l d o l t a c e i m i a o a p w i i m o h o q c n n v f l e g g o n a i e t m m u e d d h h m m t P T u u c i r y a r f t t e r a p l w a o h u e s e l t d m a p l s b l o c a d h e n c y t c e g r r e u n n e s i e r e o s c m o p a n a e a i t e o s t n t o c l m h e a t e t . p n i s d a t f p e y r o n v m e s p a t t i o a s o n r i r t s n i o c r l n w t r o i c e f u s o i a o f g e n y o c a d r v t d i e a a s g s e d n t h a r d e l , c s e p h t s l e o s e r h o y s a o n i i a i . m u a . r s n n a o p t o I b t r i n V s h b r d a h e t t n r e l o a d . s s e l n t o o i e - r e , P e a i j c h g s t t t s n t w e f l s q h k h f k e i i h a o c g r e g u e n s i e y c e t o f i f r s u n d a a e t l e s a m o p i c ; c a e r r d a r g r n u a h e a o n h d m e c h l t a l r r d o h s i p t a t i v l t k e a q h w n i s l a l p s e m c e a , u e t l c d r d e a t w t n i a e a o h t a h m v m i l , n o s r m v k i e e a e r p t e s d e a i r n e e b e e c p g d f c , i l d a t e o r t n e l t a u e m t i h f a h r h n o t p s d o o e s a e i e e n e t a o s a r e v a s e n d e n a s c s n s b s e e c r . s x t t t a t e r u n s a i i e e / e T o t l c h a n o n w i t e d d e c o f l l i n i a h , o o r d l r p r e t t m t i s p t n e e a u i s h o h i h n t o t i a o t n r p e t e r o e e i g n w m a o v t i s a e a f t x u e v o o a h y l i i g s s r e l t h - 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FALL2008.cite 1 somewhat like the main portal of the campus through Lovett Hall. Other doors on all sides of the building allow the Pavilion to be opened to the outside in good weather. Seen from the west, the building takes on another role and appears as a new, thick, glass facade for the generally opaque Fondren Library behind. At night it appears as a lantern. Despite its obvious differences with the surrounding buildings, the project seems at ease in its context. It is the right puzzle piece, if with a ABOVE AND TOP RIGHT: Views different picture. from Fondren Library along the Landscaping by east-west axis of the university. The Office of James RIGHT: Coffee bar and seating. Burnett Landscape Architecture plays an important role in mak- ing the building fit in. The landscape architecture scheme negoti- ates with the formality of the campus while humanizing it. There are no extravagant ges- tures and the plant palette is restrained. Burnett focused prima- rily on the space between the pavilion and Fondren Library to the east where he planted a grid of Drake Elms 14 feet apart and centered on the structural Despite its obvious differences with the bays of the building. The tight placement of rela- tively mature trees has immediately provided a surrounding buildings, the project seems at dense canopy and a deep shade that makes this outdoor room inviting and even pleasant on the hottest ease in its context. It is the right puzzle piece, of Houston days. The shade from the trees com- if with a different picture. pensates for the peculiarity of the pavilion’s roof overhang, which is designed to filter light the same way live oaks do along Rice walkways but do S R

not provide adequate protection from the sun in E N T

summer (or protection from rain). The outdoor R A P

space is actually divided into two identical courts, D N Client: A one on each side of the main axis, and each has a R E F

Rice University I

52-foot-long by 4-foot-wide fountain as a center- H P

piece. The fountains are troughs in black stone S A

Project Manager: M which provides a counterpoint to the whiteness of O H

Ana Ramirez, Larry Vossler T the pavilion. The presence of water and the mur- : W O L

mur of the fountains contribute to the cooling E

Architects: B

effect. The ground surface in decomposed granite D Thomas Phifer and Partners N A

gives a public garden connotation. The tables and T F E Engineers: chairs that furnish the space can be changed and L P

Haynes Whaley Associates (structural) O T

rearranged by the users, and for Burnett, the iris ; Altieri Sebor Wieber, LLC (MEP) S N

that surround the courts add looseness to the com- E

32 G G position. The space teeters between the formal and I Construction Contractor: M e Y t i R

c Linbeck Group the informal. . R 8 A L 0

In contrast to the enclosed outdoor space to the : 0 P 2 O L T

L east, the view opens to the north and south, and A F Brochstein Pavilion Plan.

especially to the west over the sloped lawn. Here Burnett’s project generally feathers into the existing landscape. Horsetail reeds under the roof overhang will eventually be pruned to a uniform height, when they should be geometrical and virtually architectural. They provide a slight separation between people seated just outside the pavilion and passersby. What the Brochstein Pavilion is actually sup- posed to be remains agreeably ambiguous. A student union? Simply a place to study? As pleasant as the space may be, the social functions the building are only beginning to develop. It focuses campus life inward and seems to accentuate the monastic quali- ty of the campus, though it could serve as a modern- day forum, a covered piazza, a village square for impromptu meetings and exchange. Located at the center of Rice, it is a sort of retroactive navel that should both channel and symbolize campus life. An unintended consequence of the project, how- working within its continuum. He also aspires to from the early 1950s and most certainly to many ever, is that the landscape of the main quad, for timeless building through simplicity. On his web other dreams and traditions of modern and contem- example, now appears harsh in comparison. site he reveals images of his own “inspirations” that porary architecture. Currently, Houston architec- Likewise, in relation to this new, crisp pavilion, the range from Gothic cathedrals to high-tech objects, ture rarely participates in a bold transformation of architectural approach adopted for the campus over from Japanese pavilions to cast iron exhibition halls, modern architecture, even though that should prac- the last several decades seems lackluster. As odd as from minimal art to high modernism… This varied tically be its birthright. Houston was founded only it may be at the beginning of the 21st century, mod- yet coherent selection of working references 15 years before the Crystal Palace was constructed. ern architecture seems to have been vindicated explains perhaps how Phifer managed to successful- Rice University opened 23 years after the comple- through this project. Transparency and lightness are ly place a modern building in a more traditional tion of the Eiffel Tower and only 17 years before the shown to be valid architectural pursuits, as are a context. At least in an architect’s mind’s eye, Phifer’s Barcelona Pavilion. The Brochstein Pavilion is permeable relation between inside and outside and project is part of another architectural tradition that among the most exciting and modern buildings to even the expression of rational structure. is well over a century old. His building is heir to be realized in Houston in recent memory. Phifer generally aspires to a transformation and Paul Scheerbart’s Glass Architecture dream from Hopefully, the building and its approach will have an actualization of modern architecture while 1914 and to Le Corbusier’s Poem of the Right Angle an influence and even inspire others.

has never had a gathering place where students, faculty, talented designers. At the time, nothing on the Rice building agenda seemed administration, and the community could meet. Autry right—until the priority of the president to build the pavilion became known. Rice House, adjoining Palmer Church on Main Street, tried to Raymond and his wife Susan had recently traveled to Paris and visited the serve that purpose from 1920 to 1948, but there was not much community Tuileries Garden and returned with a fresh appreciation for the lines of trees, around. The Roost, in the basement of Fondren Library (1948-58) was unwel- crushed granite surfaces, and movable tables and chairs. Translated into the comely buried in the basement. Sammy’s in the Rice pavilion site, one can imagine accommodating outdoor con- Memorial Center has been infinitely more pleasant but certs and movies at the west end of the building. mostly students go there. For his part, the architect described his concept to the Raymond Brochstein, a Rice graduate (BS Arch ‘56), Everyone Buildings and Grounds Committee as a “light structure in a Chairman of Brochsteins Inc., trustee emeritus, and 19th-century English garden.” benefactor, has attended the Rice Buildings and Loves Brochstein notes the synergy between Phifer and James Grounds Committee meetings for a long time and care- Burnett, the landscape architect: “They clicked. Burnett fully followed the planning ideas developed over the Raymond outdid himself. Together they turned this into a people years to create a commons – the Pelli Plan with it’s by Barry Moore place.” He adds, “You can design for a result you want, but Sallyport-sized opening through Fondren to reestab- results are not always predictable.” S

R lish the east-west axis, the idea of a cyber cafe inside Asked for his analysis of the pavilion, Brochstein does E N

T Fondren, and the Michael Graves proposal for a new structure west of Fondren . not hesitate: “This is in some ways ‘non-architecture’. It is a strong architectural R A P Raymond, however, is quick to place the credit elsewhere for building the statement, but once you go inside, the architecture goes away.” But his most D N

A pavilion. “This never would have happened without President David Leebron. insightful comment concerns this new building’s relationship to Fondren R E F

I He was concerned because the campus looks dead at times, especially west Library. “The west end of Fondren is the worst. Now it couldn’t be a more perfect

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S of Fondren. It’s nice to have a facility sort of like a lantern, a beacon, light backdrop. How often do you find something so bad that turns out so good?” A e M t and active.” The Brochsteins are delighted that the Brochstein Pavilion has become a pub- i O c . H 8 T : Brochstein had known pavilion architect Tom Phifer since his visit to the lic destination on what was a dead part of the campus and an exciting mid-point 0 N 0 A 2 L

campus in 2005 for an informational interview, along with other well known, on the axis from the Sallyport to the Shepherd School. L P L A F