Oliver Wainwright

‘Like a Klingon prison’: inside Barack Obama’s audacious, near-windowless, $850m presidential library

The article describes the upcoming opening of Barack Obama's $850 million presidential library on Chicago's South Side, designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects. The 70-meter-tall, mostly windowless granite monolith, nicknamed the "Obamalisk," has drawn comparisons to a flak tower or Klingon prison due to its angular, fortress-like appearance. Obama was deeply involved in the design, pushing for angular forms inspired by sculptor Brâncuși, reversing the architects' usual process of designing from the inside out.

museum exhibitions schedule Apr 16, 2026

Like a concrete aircraft carrier: was LA’s giant new $724m gallery really worth all the carbon emissions?

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is set to open its new $724 million David Geffen Galleries, designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The massive concrete structure, which spans Wilshire Boulevard like a bridge, represents a twenty-year effort led by director Michael Govan to create a non-hierarchical, single-level museum space. The building's design features eight massive pavilions supporting a sprawling 110,000 square foot gallery floor, intended to house the museum's diverse permanent collection in a transparent, fluid environment.

person Oliver Wainwright

‘Like a Klingon prison’: inside Barack Obama’s audacious, near-windowless, $850m presidential library

Like a concrete aircraft carrier: was LA’s giant new $724m gallery really worth all the carbon emissions?