‘World class’: Former Birkenstock building in Novato purchased for new art and design museum

NOVATO, Calif. (KGO) — Within the North Bay, a neighborhood landmark is getting a brand new lease on life. The previous Birkenstock constructing in Novato, identified for its mid-century design will quickly grow to be a brand new artwork and design museum, celebrating the works of California designers, Ray and Charles Eames.

Take a drive up Freeway 101 by Novato, and you’ll’t miss it. The previous Birkenstock constructing, two soccer fields-long with spikey peaks and plenty of mid-century appeal, usually missed, till now.

“It is surprisingly in remarkably nice form,” stated Eames Institute of Curiosity president John Cary.

Cary’s nonprofit The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity has bought the 1960’s period constructing with plans of reworking it into a brand new artwork and design museum. Largely devoted to the legacy Charles and Ray Eames, the husband-and-wife design crew and creators of the well-known Herman Miller Eames chair amongst different mid-century classics .

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“We completely wish to make this a world class vacation spot, we imagine Ray and Charles Eames in addition to their contemporaries want world curiosity and assist,” Cary added.

Carey says the 88-acre campus footprint will largely stay the identical, however be reimaged by the identical architects who created the de Younger Museum in Golden Gate Park.

“We’re additionally hoping to create space for artists who’ve but to make their massive mark,” Cary added.

The Eames institute at the moment operates out of a warehouse in Richmond, the place there is a wait checklist of 1,000 folks hoping to go to. There’s additionally this free pop-up Eames exhibit within the Transamerica Pyramid annex in San Francisco.

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Design fanatic Brian Gerritsen says it is about time these classics have a world class dwelling.

“There’s avid collectors of this furnishings, we’re, good to see a museum in Novato additionally,” Gerritsen

The furnishings has a cult following, even when it isn’t your factor, you have most likely sat in airport seating like this all over the world.

Cary says he helps. The museum will appeal to 200,000 folks yearly. A timeline for the undertaking remains to be unknown. The associated fee for the constructing is $36 million.

Marin County is already dwelling to mid-century landmarks just like the Civic Middle designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Now, this former sandal warehouse is prepared for its second act.