September 14, 2006 Issue                                       

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©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Venturi Scott Brown Architects subject of Woodmere exhibits
by KRISTIN PAZULSKI

The architecture and design of the world-renowned Philadelphia firm of Venturi Scott Brown and Associates will be exhibited at the Woodmere Art Museum, Sept. 17 through Jan. 7, but not in the form the museum had anticipated.

VSBA is the architect for the museum’s long-awaited 26,000 square foot addition — an addition that was envisioned about 20 years ago, though only became a reality in 2000 with a substantial gift from the estate of Dwight V. Dowley Esq.

Yet groundbreaking on the addition is still on hold as a handful of nearby rresidents— organized as the North Chestnut Hill Neighbors — continue a two-year battle with the museum in the courts despite repeated support for the project by several organizations including the Chestnut Hill Community Association

Woodmere will host a “Celebration of Philadelphia Architecture,” including a tour of the Vanna Venturi house.

The CHCA spent five months in 2004 discussing the addition through its committee process before giving it the green light. Woodmere also has the support of architectural watchdogs Design Advocacy Group of Philadelphia and the City Planning Commission, according to Michael Schantz, Woodmere’s director for 25 years.

When Woodmere’s application went to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, it took four meetings to sort through the neighbor’s issues before the ZBA approved the project.

The neighbors, still unsatisfied with the design and scope of the addition, appealed the ZBA’s decision, but were turned down by the Court of Common Pleas in June 2005. This past July, Woodmere received word of another appeal by the neighbors, this one taking the case to Commonwealth Court.

Schantz estimated it would take about nine to twelve months to settle this latest appeal, for which a court date has not yet been scheduled. But in the meantime, three separate exhibits of work by VBSA’s partners, Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, will be on display at the museum for 16 weeks.

One exhibit titled Mother’s House: Robert Venturi’s Big Little House for Vanna Venturi, focuses on one of Venturi’s individual projects, a house he designed for his mother in the 1960s. The house, situated in Chestnut Hill near Pastorius Park, has influenced generations of architects worldwide and is nicknamed the “Big Little House” for its innovative and deceptive design.

Another exhibit will feature non-architectural work by Venturi and Scott Brown. On display in the Decorated Decorative Arts by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown will be furniture, jewelry, house wares, mirrors and more that they designed.

The third exhibit will feature the VSBA design and plans for the Woodmere addition.

On Sept. 30, from 1-7 p.m., Woodmere will host a “Celebration of Philadelphia Architecture.” The event includes a house tour of the Vanna Venturi house, a house by Kenneth Day on Millman Street and Louis Kahn’s Esherick House in Chestnut Hill. Venturi and Scott Brown will be present to discuss architecture for the information age.

On the same day, an opening reception for the three exhibits will begin at 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-247-7229 or e-mailing hrpaulmier@woodmereartmuseum.org.