Instead of re-erecting the five-bay facade exactly as it stood before, however, the museum's architects "folded" it like an accordion to fit better onto the Front Street site, and designed exhibit galleries behind it. They also designed new cast-aluminum pieces in the manner of the old cast-iron ones so the facade could turn the "corners" that didn't exist before. It was an ingenious way to save a piece of Baltimore history while adapting it for a new use.
The lead architects for the Fava Building were Charles Brickbauer and Hugh McCormick, working initially with the partnership of Peterson and Brickbauer and later with Ziger/Snead Architects. In 2001, the building was added to the city's landmark list. Pomykala is working with the Leon Bridges Co. on the next phases of the inn, the garage and the guest rooms.
Groundhog Day fundraiser
The Baltimore Architecture Foundation will hold its annual Groundhog Day party and fundraiser at 7 p.m. Feb. 2 in the Bottle Building at Brewers Hill, Conkling and Toone streets.
Tickets can be purchased at the door: $29 for foundation members; $40 for nonmembers; $70 for two people. The theme is "Light and Shadow," and black-and-white cocktail party attire is encouraged.
Proceeds benefit the work of the foundation, a nonprofit center for Baltimoreans who care about architecture. Information: Call 410-539-7772.
MICA exhibit
Three European architectural firms will explore the relationships among nature, the urban landscape and "green design" in the exhibition Anxious Climate: Architecture at the Edge of Environment, at the Maryland Institute College of Art from Jan. 31 to March 9.
The participating architecture firms are R&Sie of Paris, Philippe Rahm of Lausanne and Paris, and Amid [Cero 9] of Madrid. Including computer renderings, photographs, 3-D prints and diagrams, Anxious Climate will be on view in the college's Fox Building, 1303 Mount Royal Ave. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
An opening reception will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 31.
ed.gunts@baltsun.com
