Construction kicks off on George Lucas' Museum of Narrative Art
– George Lucas
The official groundbreaking has taken place for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art – Star Wars creator George Lucas’ long-awaited cultural venture in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park.
The 300,000sq ft (27,800sq m) museum will celebrate the art of visual storytelling – from comic art, paintings and illustrations to photography, filmmaking and drawings – with collection galleries, exhibition spaces and two theatres displaying original works of art, digital technologies and daily film screenings.
MAD Architects’ Ma Yansong is behind the building’s futuristic design, which will transform a series of asphalt parking lots into an organic, streamlined form, not unlike some of the spacecraft familiar from Lucas’ most famous cinematic creation.
The museum will feature an expansive public landscaped roof, artificial waterfalls and pathways through 11 acres of surrounding new parkland and gardens, created by LA landscape architects Studio-MLA.
“The focus of the museum is to open up people’s imaginations and inspire them to dream beyond what is considered possible," said Lucas speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on 14 March.
“Narrative art and storytelling stirs our emotions, shapes our aspirations as a society, and is the glue that binds us together around our common beliefs.”
Museum co-founder Mellody Hobson added: “Our goal is to create the world’s most inclusive and accessible art museum – a place that brings together people from every walk of life.”
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti described the museum as “an architectural wonder, a cultural treasure, and a centre of storytelling and creativity at the heart of a reimagined Exposition Park.”
Construction is commencing immediately and is anticipated to be complete by late 2021.
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art George Lucas Los Angeles Exposition Park MAD Ma Yansong Mellody Hobson Eric GarcettiGeorge Lucas wins planning approval for LA museum as new renderings released
Potential designs unveiled for both San Francisco and Los Angeles as Lucas Museum saga continues
Lucas museum coming to California after director drops Chicago plans
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Aman sister brand Janu launching in Tokyo in 2024 with design by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy
The Peninsula London unveils Peter Marino-designed spa inspired by London’s famous parks
First glimpses revealed of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair's subterranean spa retreat
"Architecture is alive" says Ma Yansong, as Shenzhen art museum opens exhibition showcasing work of MAD Architects
BrunelloCucinelli has madehisfortune from cashmere and has used hiswealthto restoreandrevive theItalian hamlet he callshome. Wefindout more