BUILDING BLOCKS

Museum Innovations | Keelan Cashmore

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A common theme discussed in Museum Studies classes is that the term "museum" encompasses more than the traditional institution. We’re told that this umbrella term covers zoos, historic houses, national parks, visitor centres, and so much more.

But, what about buildings?

We know that architecture plays a key role in museums. Not only does museum architecture need to be functional and relevant to the space, but it also influences the presentation of the objects (source). However, museum architecture usually refers to the building of the intended museum. What if a building designed as a building, and not a museum, could fall under the large umbrella term of "museum"?

One of the best examples for this would be the Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building. 

The Burj Khalifa was inaugurated in 2010 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and stands 829.8m tall. 

The Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Source.

The building itself is considered a work of art and is thought to be “an unprecedented example of international cooperation, symbolic beacon of progress, and an emblem of the new, dynamic and prosperous Middle East” (source).

Apart from being a building, Burj Khalifa is comprised of residential space, office space, the Armani Hotel Dubai, Armani residences, lounges, health and wellness facilities, four pools, and two observation decks. It also provides promotional perks for members. 

View from the top of the Burj Khalifa. Source.

This building is more than just a building. It is both a historical and artistic addition to the cultural city of Dubai. Artworks are present throughout the building, including the sculpture “World Voices” by artist Jaume Plensa, and Karim Rashid’s “Evolutes” adorning the corporate entrance of The Residence at Burj lobby. It also presents the cultural history of Dubai, with its Stories. These stories discuss the significance of the artistic and historical aspects of the Burj Khalifa, and why this is significant for the city of Dubai (source).

The Burj Khalifa building itself has also been used as an art piece itself, often lighting up in various colours or patterns. For example, in October, the Burj Khalifa was lit up pink to raise awareness about Breast Cancer. Source.

Images showcasing the Burj Khalifa on various nights. Source.

However, the Burj Khalia is not the only building like this. Toronto’s CN Tower is one of these types of buildings in its own right. Completed in 1976 the CN Tower is the world’s 9th tallest building at a height of 553.3m tall (source).

Similar to museums, the CN Tower contains text panels and displays detailing its history, from inception to construction, and how it has changed since 1976. It also consists of observation decks, restaurants, and the ever-popular Edgewalk, which allows individuals to walk on the outside of the tower. 

The CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Source.

Like the Burj Khalifa, the CN Tower promotes the significance of the history and culture of Toronto through both its design and presence as a tourist attraction within the city. Since its initial creation as a television and radio platform, the CN Tower has become an iconic building in the city of Toronto.  

View from inside the CN Tower. Source.

Both the Burj Khalifa and the CN Tower have similar aspects to museums or historic houses. They promote the history of the buildings and their relevance to understanding the city in which they were constructed. They also provide a unique experience for visitors and present a specific artistic vision associated with the buildings.

Edgewalk on the CN Tower. Source.

Are the Burj Khalifa and the CN Tower a different type of interpretation of “museum”? Yes. But being different doesn’t mean they should be separated. In this regard, I would consider these buildings, and buildings like them, just as much under the umbrella of “museums” as I would zoos or historic houses. As the world evolves so does our definition of “museum”, and it’s important to be open to accepting these changes.

Want to check out another enthralling blog post about the CN Tower? Check out Rebecca's Ghosts of Toronto's Past, where she discusses why we are so obsessed with getting these "birds eye views." You can read her article here.

I'M ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Ghosts of Toronto's Past | Rebecca Barrett

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Considering all the incredible architecture and public art that exists everywhere in Toronto, the CN Tower is, by comparison, a huge eyesore. Made out of industrial concrete, it looms above the city like a wartime bunker. But, being the most widely recognizable symbol for Toronto, it’s a popular destination for tourists. Locals, on the other hand, wouldn’t be caught dead there – I don’t know anyone from Toronto whose idea of a fun time or a good night is heading on over to the CN Tower for ridiculously expensive drinks. There are expensive bars with huge covers all over the city but, for whatever reason, the CN Tower just doesn’t have the same allure for locals.

I’ve been thinking about the role of the CN Tower in Toronto. It seems strange that the most iconic symbol of a city is something that appeals to tourists but that locals tend to at worst abhor, and at best ignore. Thus, I want to dedicate this column to the CN Tower and, more interestingly, the view from the top.

The westward facing view of Toronto from the top of the CN Tower. Source. 

This definitely isn’t a unique phenomenon to Toronto. There are tall buildings serving as tourist destinations in cities all over the world – Seattle’s Space Needle, New York’s Empire State Building, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, Berlin’s TV Tower, Hong Kong’s International Commerce Center, Paris’ Eiffel Tower, the list goes on and on. But there are distinctions to be made within this list. Some of these tall buildings are, first and foremost, historical – like the Eiffel Tower or the Arc du Triomphe. It makes intuitive sense for these to be tourist destinations more than local attractions because they represent the history of a city. For example, Napoleonic buffs around the world would naturally be drawn to the Arc du Triomphe because it played a role in Napoleonic France.

Comparing The CN Tower to other tall buildings that also serve as tourist destinations around the world. Top (L to R): The Eiffel Tower (Source), Burj Khalifa (Source), The Space Needle (Source), The Empire State Building (Source). Bottom (L to R): The CN Tower (Source), Eureka Tower (Source), International Commerce Center (Source), TV Tower (Source).

But let’s consider the trickier cases – the cases of buildings that don’t serve any real historical value (at least not to the majority of tourists that visit them). This is where I believe the CN Tower fits in. While the CN Tower does have a history, which I’m sure appeals to some people, it is not necessarily symbolic purely because of that history. Rather, it seems to be symbolic to Toronto simply because it is tall.

Thus, the question becomes: why are tourists so attracted to climbing to the top of tall buildings? Why is it a cliché to eat lunch or get drinks beside a rooftop view of Toronto, or Berlin, or Dubai? Even more unclear: why are the observation decks of tall buildings so often considered romantic? In An Affair to Remember, when planning to reunite with her lover Carry Grant in six months’ time on the top of the Empire State Building, Deborah Kerr says “it’s the nearest thing to heaven we have in New York.” Maybe she’s right, but if that’s the case, then why do the locals of any one city tend not to want to partake in such a romantic and heavenly experience too?

Carry Grant and Deborah Kerr in An Affair to Remember. The Empire State Building is behind Kerr! Source.

The only possible answer I can come up with is that there is something appealing in the bird's-eye view that tall buildings offer. The CN Tower offers a different perspective, a wider perspective, where one can seemingly observe everything about Toronto at once. When a city is so infinitely complex and mysterious that no amount of vacation time seems like enough, maybe taking in the view from an observation deck allows tourists to feel like they are experiencing more of the city than they really are. From the top of the CN Tower’s observation deck, you can see streets, buildings, lights, parks – seemingly everything the city has to offer in one instantaneous glimpse. This is certainly more immediate exposure to the city than would be possible from simply trekking around on the ground. In fact, this could also explain why locals aren’t typically interested in climbing to the top of tall buildings in their own city just for the sake of a bird's-eye view – they already have a more detailed and nuanced experience of the city, and don’t feel like they need the extra orientation. In other words: they already know their way around. (That, and the fact that the CN Tower is located in a rather unappealing and boring section of the downtown core.)

A southward facing bird's-eye view of downtown Toronto, including the CN Tower, City Hall, and the Eaton Centre. Source.

Bird's-eye views can be cathartic and humbling. They can put our everyday worries in perspective and remind us that there is so much more to the world, and to our city, than what we experience from our home on the ground. The CN Tower is a source of wonder for many people, not because of its architecture or historical significance, but purely because it reminds us how small we all really are.

Time-lapse of the CN Tower lit up at night during Pride Week -- sometimes it's pretty. Source.