Reading Three – Baroque Architecture

Reading Three – Baroque Architecture Raggatt, H. & Macarthur, J. 2001. Australian Baroque. Architecture Australia 90(2): 49-62

I found this reading of Australian Baroque interesting in how the National Museum of Australia has been developed over a strenuous and eclectic thought pattern. Upon first glance, I did not see clearly how the notion of Baroque medium was apparent within the NMA. I found it quite a bold statement to categorize it under Baroque. Raggatt’s design is very eclectic in an intertextual manner; linking it to various landmark designs famous worldwide. These include Libeskind’s Hallocaust Museum, Sydney Opera House and the TWA Terminal at JFK airport, New York as well as elements from Le Corbusier, Walter Burley Griffin, Eero Saarinen and James Stirling. As I read this reading, it started to annoy me that such a Landmark place in Australia that was named Australia’s best major tourist attraction in 2005 and 2006 was being marvelled.

But as I went over the reading, I began to appreciate more on what Raggatt was attempting to portray. There were particular elements that I enjoyed, such as the “building being modestly low; framed and sheltered by existing mature trees, that seem to grow out of the landform of the peninsula with only a large steel tower, intended to be the icon and landmark of the museum, rising up to contest the landform in fanciful aerial loop.” There are some architectural elements I thought were quite appropriate to the site but overall, my opinion of the building is one of mediocrity. I believe that it from what I can observe without visiting it is that Raggatt’s initial outcome was not necessarily the most relevant for that type. I am glad that the reading also pointed this out saying,

“No one seeing the National Museum of Australia can doubt the architects’ skill and determination, but many will doubt their wisdom, taste and professional comportment.”

Overall, I think the architects concentrated a little too much on giving a reason to develop ideas within the building within a contextual sense and slightly neglected a more professionally functional approach.