Fountain fans say Apple’s S.F. store plans all wet

[marmar]

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Apple Inc., the darling of Silicon Valley and Bay Area gadget geeks, could be in for a public fight close to home over preliminary plans for a new store in San Francisco’s Union Square.

Last week, San Francisco Chronicle architecture critic John King wrote a blistering critique of preliminary plans for a new glass store on Union Square, designed by the star-chitecture firm of Foster + Partners of London, also the designers of Apple’s proposed spaceship-like R&D campus in Cupertino, Calif.

King called the proposed new store, planned for a premium corner of Union Square at Post and Stockton, a “crate,” a “misfire” and a “box that would look at home in Anymall U.S.A.” But of even greater concern to many locals is that the plans calls for the removal of a beloved bronze folk art fountain by San Francisco sculptor Ruth Asawa.

The circular fountain, installed in 1973, was made of baker’s clay and cast in bronze. It is seven feet high and a focal point of a triangular-shaped public square just off the main hubbub of Union Square. The fountain depicts hundreds of figures, local places and events near and dear to any San Franciscan. “The fountain depicts San Francisco, and approximately 250 friends and school children helped in its making by contributing self-portraits, cars, buildings, and various San Francisco landmarks,” the Japanese-American sculptor, now 87, explains on her website. .......................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-faces-backlash-over-popular-sf-fountain-2013-06-04?dist=lcountdown

[hunter]

1. Apple is a souless corporation, just like any other.

I've got no reason to ever set foot in an apple store, but I often stop to look at art.

[HappyMe]

2. Good grief!

Replacing this fountain with an ugly store is horrible. What are they going to do, put a drooling apple out front and call it art.

[GeorgeGist]

3. Will the Levi's banner stay?

[snooper2]

4. I thought fountains were a needless waste of energy?

[Sirveri]

5. I've actually done work for Fosters, they have several buildings in the bay area.

I think they look pretty decent, albeit with a bit too much of a modern flair for my tastes.

If memory serves the Stanford laser lab was designed by them. From the overhead it looks like a medical diagram of the female reproductive organs...

[Heywood J]

6. Don't forget to buy the latest iScenery to replace the view of all the landmarks

and public art lost to the creation of more corporate profit and outsourcing!