The Guggenheim regroups: The Story Behind the Cutbacks: in financial crisis, and with its downtown NYC expansion plan deferred or defunct, the Guggenheim museum continues to explore ambitious new global projects - Art & Money

Art in America, Feb, 2003 by Lee Rosebaum

Social conditions in Rio may also pose problems. The New York Times recently described the alarming level of violence there, where "gangs can shut down the entire city." But as he already demonstrated in Spain's volatile Basque region, Krens has a high tolerance for risk. During the planning phase for Bilbao, the region's sometimes violent Basque separatists sent Krens a letter "saying they didn't think it was an appropriate thing for the Guggenheim to come to Bilbao," he recounted recently. What's more, the American ambassador to Spain had warned Krens that "raw intelligence reports" indicated that "the project could be targeted." Krens continued, "Clearly the risks were reflected in the attack that took place the week of the opening, when a guard was killed. But ... in the years since then, there has been a complete change in attitude. Somehow, the separatist organizations have seen this as an extension of Basque pride."

In Rio, he deliberately chose an unglamorous site, adjacent to the business district, "where the older buildings are," rather than another available site, which he described as "luscious," between Ipanema and Copacabana beaches. "It struck me that beach front property is not exactly where you see the social mission of the institution.... I see it as a kind of catalyst for urban redevelopment, as it was in Bilbao."

If it prevails, Nouvel's 240,000-square-foot museum, a bit smaller than Bilbao, would include four separate exhibition components: a skylit contemporary art space; eight galleries for masterworks from the Guggenheim, and possibly also from the Hermitage and Kunsthistorisches museums; a large multimedia center with performance spaces, theaters and smaller viewing rooms for videos; and the tower for special exhibitions. Seven site-specific commissions would be installed throughout the complex. The rain forest, with Brazilian flora and fauna, would be built over some of the gallery spaces; it would feature a 100-foot waterfall, walking paths and suspension bridges. Outside the museum would be boardwalks and marinas, as well as a wall screening off the museum from a nearby highway.

Krens hopes to open an exhibition in Rio in the first half of 2003 presenting information and models for the project. If Rio decides that the $250-million project is too costly, "the budget could go down to $120 million, but the project would have to be redesigned," Krens said. He noted that "Bilbao was originally projected as a 350,000-square-foot building and it was built at 286,000." The cost was thereby reduced by about 20 percent.

However things turn out, "we've produced an exquisite concept for a museum in South America and we've been compensated for that," said Krens, noting that the $2-million feasibility study included a 15-percent fee for the Guggenheim. "If it doesn't happen," he said, "it wouldn't be the first time I didn't get what I wanted." He said that he is still "approached constantly" by foreign representatives seeking to clone new Guggenheims. Vidarte recently told the Bilbao newspaper El Correo that the Guggenheim was "in the preliminary phase" of a feasibility study for a new $200-million Guggenheim in Taichung, a city in Taiwan. An architect has not yet been selected.