CHURCH ARCHITECT PREFERS DOWNTOWN SITE.Byline: Anne Burke Daily News Staff Writer While remaining mum about his design plans, the celebrated architect for Los Angeles' new cathedral said Tuesday that he favors a downtown location and hopes the current structure can be demolished so that work can begin quickly. The St. Vibiana's site at Second and Main streets downtown ``is full of potential and the most interesting site for a building like that in this city,'' Jose Rafael Moneo José Rafael Moneo Vallés (born May 9, 1937) is a Spanish architect. He was born in Tudela, Spain, and won the Pritzker Prize for architecture in 1996. He studied at the ETSAM, Technical University of Madrid (UPM) from which he received his architectural degree in 1961. of Madrid, Spain, told reporters. Cardinal Roger Mahony His Eminence Roger Michael Cardinal Mahony (born February 27, 1936) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as the fourth Archbishop of Los Angeles, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1991. , spiritual leader of 3.5 million Roman Catholics in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , called the news conference to announce Moneo's selection as architect for the $45 million cathedral square Cathedral Square is often the name of the square located in front of the main cathedral of a city. Among others, Cathedral Square can refer to:
At a ceremony tonight at the Getty Center Getty Center, art museum complex in Brentwood, Calif. operated by the J. Paul Getty Trust. It consists of six buildings on 124 acres (50 hectares) located on a spectacular promontory overlooking Los Angeles. site in Brentwood, Moneo will be awarded the $100,000 Pritzker Prize Pritzker Prize (prĭt`skər), officially The Pritzker Architecture Prize, award for excellence in architecture, given annually since 1979. - considered architecture's Nobel. Moneo's first public appearance as cathedral architect thrust him onto center stage of a mounting controversy over demolition of the 120-year-old cathedral, a city historic cultural monument red-tagged because of damage from the Northridge Earthquake. Mahony wants to raze raze also rase tr.v. razed also rased, raz·ing also ras·ing, raz·es also ras·es 1. To level to the ground; demolish. See Synonyms at ruin. 2. To scrape or shave off. 3. the church to make way for the new cathedral. He is opposed by preservationists from the Los Angeles Conservancy The Los Angeles Conservancy is the preeminent historic preservation organization in Los Angeles, California. It works to document, rescue and revitalize historic buildings, places and neighborhoods in the city. , who won a court order temporarily blocking demolition that began earlier this month, without a city permit. The cardinal has threatened to move the cathedral out of downtown unless preservationists drop legal challenges to the demolition. ``We hope and pray that we will be permitted to build our new cathedral church on the same historic block as the former one, and to be a catalyst for a bright new future for the historic core of the city,'' Mahony said. The 5,000-member conservancy wants at least part of the old cathedral spared from the wrecking ball and incorporated into the new structure. At the press conference, Moneo came down on Mahony's side. He said the old cathedral should be demolished, but pledged to incorporate features such as the portico, stained-glass windows, altars and icons into his design. ``It seems to me the old cathedral is more valuable for what it represents in terms of memories, or feelings, rather than architecturally,'' Moneo said. ``Architecturally, it isn't a piece of great value,'' he said. Conservancy Executive Director Linda Dishman took issue with Moneo's remarks. She said she wants to meet with the architect and archdiocese officials to persuade them to keep part of St. Vibiana's standing. On Tuesday, city leaders - who have sided with Mahony - stepped up efforts to keep the new cathedral downtown. Councilwoman Rita Walters introduced a motion asking the city's Cultural Heritage Commission to look into decertifying the cathedral as a historic monument to remove obstacles to demolition. ``I did it in an effort to try and break this logjam log·jam n. 1. An immovable mass of floating logs crowded together. 2. A deadlock, as in negotiations; an impasse. Noun 1. and keep the cathedral downtown,'' Walters said. The councilwoman and other city leaders claim the cathedral will be a boon to downtown revitalization efforts. Moneo, 59, edged out two acclaimed Santa Monica architects, Frank O. Gehry and Thom Mayne, for the cathedral commission. The cathedral project is to include a 3,000-seat worship space, archbishop's residence, conference center and plaza. ``We sensed early on that for you this project was more than the design of another building for a client. This enterprise was about creating a wonderful sacred space sacred space, n space—tangible or otherwise—that enables those who acknowledge and accept it to feel reverence and connection with the spiritual. in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of a modern city known for its ephemeral entertainment glitter,'' Mahony said. Moneo, whose work includes the National Museum of Roman Art in Merida, Spain, said that construction of the cathedral at the current site would help the city establish links with its historic past and tap into downtown energy. He also said the current location near Skid Row is attractive because the cathedral would be close to the poor and disenfranchised, among those who need the church's services the most. ``I don't think `uptown' in the city needs any help. It provides for itself,'' Moneo added. Mahony has suggested that the cathedral could be built in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. or elsewhere in Los Angeles County if the conservancy does not withdraw opposition to the razing of St. Vibiana's. A court hearing is scheduled for Monday to decide whether Mahony can go ahead with demolition without a full environmental review. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1--Color) Jose Rafael Moneo and Cardinal Roger M ahony sign a deal on Los Angeles' new cathedral Tuesday. (2) Jose Rafael Moneo says St. Vibiana's isn't valuable architecturally. Hans Gutknecht/Daily News |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion