daniel libeskind: MGM mirage city center

daniel libeskind: MGM mirage city center


MGM mirage's citycenter by daniel libeskind
all images courtesy daniel libeskind



daniel libeskind worked as a design consultant to adamson associates to design
the retail and public space complex on the main las vegas strip as part of the MGM mirage's
citycenter construction project. citycenter, a vertical city in the heart of the las vegas strip
between the bellagio and monte carlo resorts, combines 2,700 private residences, two
400-room non-gaming boutique hotels, a dramatic 60-story, 4,000-room resort casino,
and approximately 500,000 sq.ft. of retail and entertainment facilities into a single urban core.
the project which was completed in late 2009 include collaborations between MGM mirage
and eight of the world’s foremost architects.

housed within crystalline, metal-clad shapes, high end retail shops line las vegas blvd and the avenue.
a dramatic entryway into the retail area from the strip draws pedestrians into the public arcade,
covered by an expressive, spiraling roof structure. in addition to providing access to retail shops,
the public spaces allow for a variety of urban experiences: a water feature at the entry, cafes
and a grand staircase leading to casino square at the end of the arcade, animating the whole space.
in addition to the main entry off las vegas blvd, there are two entries off the avenue as well as access
to the facility on the second level through pedestrian bridges over harmon avenue to the lifestyle hotel
and over the avenue from the mandarin oriental hotel. in addition to the casino, hotels and residential
buildings, the public retail complex is intended to add a vibrant program to the mixed-use development
on block c.



aerial view at night









view along the boulevard









one of the many entrances













interior



initial sketch of MGM citycenter
ridhika db
07.29.10  
25
I believe possibly that this is just too unreadable and unfriendly, you know for goodness sake there is a line where architecture does just becomes a mess... an awful mess.
tomi   07.29.10
Is he Daniel Frank Libeskind Ghery?
no name   07.29.10
+1 no name :), I also though it was Ghery from the outside !
Bull   07.29.10
this is Gehry. doesnt seem like Liebeskind to me.
em   07.29.10
I looked at the photos first and thought it was ghery...only to find out it is Daniel Libeskind?!?!
Anon   07.29.10
cant believe it. apart from being sooo Gherylike, waht is this wooden structure on photo 10 ? looks very disturbing
ziem   07.29.10
I agree that this building is too much of the same from Libeskind from the exterior. But the interior is pretty nice! While everyone is busy expressing their dislikes about Libeskind and his work, isn't there anything positive to say about the building? Oh yeah....by the way.......you guys are aware that architects don't design for other architects, right?
21ronin.com   07.29.10
its really nt a mess..u cant mislead a non-conventional stuff as a mess in architecture...!
archreator   07.29.10
it's horrendous, there is no real reflexion regarding the interior of the building!
non-conventional with a soul not just some dreadful mass sitting down there
euh   07.29.10
designboom
This is Las Vegas, Nevada people! It’s the capital of glitz, over the top and gaudy style. Libeskind design is really quite fresh for this destination. It may be the only structure there without a neon feature.
I do agree with the previous comment about the interior not relating much to the exterior. Simply painting the interior walls with a pearl finish might do the trick.
elibby   07.29.10
it seems weird and unpleasant but once you go inside it is really nice
franco   07.29.10
the architecture normally can reflated how smart the architect is... sorry,I dont see the point of this building
Adam FANG   07.29.10
looks like the opera house in the simpsons which ended up as a prison
ericc   07.29.10
Gehry with edges.... However, perfectly adequate for the Sin City....
Ali Manco   07.29.10
I have to concur with previous remarks, this looks like a knock off of the Frank Gehry designed Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA. Even the interiors looks similar. While I do like both buildings, I don't feel this is ground breaking in any way.
The Breeze   07.29.10
take a look at the R.O.M. (Royal Ontario Museum) in Toronto. It's basically a copy of his own work.
Nevermind signature work...where is the creativity?
Starchitects are so 1990!
whatever   07.30.10
Daniel is more line-economical, Frank is more curve -expensive. so the developer choose it
aza   07.30.10
Personally I think that unless you've actually visited a piece of Architecture you have no business trying to be a critic.
Secondly you must realize that this building has very different 'faces' from various points of view between the view from above and then the street experience - I have been to this complex and from the street it is a very nice break from the normal 'overload' of crazy Las Vegas street-level design.
Lastly you need to know that Liebeskind did not do the interiors - this was all jacked up by Rockwell who basically sucks at most large scale attempts - judge after you visit people.

G-Man out
G-Man   07.30.10
Everybody thinking the same here...Gehry with sharp edges...LOL
As for me, I prefer curves over edges. I think interior is more problematic than the exterior - too complicated, every part of it screaming... Good for Lieveskind, not doing the interior.
But that is rather a decent & classy archtecture for the Sin City, filled with kitsch buildings...
milagre   07.30.10
Libeskind ate Gehry and threw up in Las Vegas
t   07.30.10
i think for the first time (second after the berlin museum) i find appropiate one of his buildings....
i cant deny that maybe this kind of architecture
fits very well Las Vegas
its the architecture of the spectacle...
i wouldnt mind walking into a shopping mall like that
I mean... its better than jerde
notsopissed   07.30.10
It isn't flashy in that bright lights las vegas kind of way, but this piece of architecture adds something more. I think the abstract, metal-clad form brings just the right amount of sophisticated 'showiness' to the strip.
This is not a mirage   07.30.10
Let's remember the context and premise of the project--IT'S IN LAS VEGAS. The glitz is totally relevant and handled properly.
jellyfish   07.30.10
Yes, Libeskind ate Gehry and threw-up in Las Vegas but also it is different when experienced from the ground level. Is there a translation problem or are people unable to spell correctly - or do they simply not care? Some examples from our friends in the comments noted above: "I also though it was Gehry" - well I did too! Or how about "..Ghery.." - I don't care for his work but really, spell the name correctly. How about "You can't mislead a non-conventional stuff as a mess in architecture" - how about a 'mess' in writing? "Architecture can normally reflated how smart the architect is..." - so can spelling and sentence structure. Looks like some of our comments were from a Palin.
rcvs1   07.30.10
I'm curious as to why the name of the property that Libeskind actually himself designed is never mentioned in this article. It's called Crystals at CityCenter and Libeskind didn't design the whole of CityCenter. There were world-renowned architects that worked on the collaborative project, including Foster & Partners and Helmut Jahn.

Anyways, just some dirt on Crystals: some of the outside metallic panels got ripped of one windy day. Not such good news for an architect.
Vegas   07.30.10

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