Blend into bland

I was so happy to read about the newest harebrained scheme to revamp LACMA (“A New Design With a Spine,” May 2). In the new plan, Renzo Piano “re-imagines LACMA as a potent blend of new and old buildings, each reflecting the value of its age.” Blend? While we’re at it maybe we could retouch the artwork so they blend better. When is blend a good thing, especially when talking about art?

In the drawings the re-imagined LACMA blends so well it looks like a shopping mall. Architecture is an art form, and at LACMA we have the beginnings of a great collection. Demolish it and return the original campus to its original 1960s’ midcentury glory, reflecting pools and all. Keep LACMA West as the art deco jewel that it is, and build a new building on the parcel between the two. No blending, just individual pieces with their own style and history.

Randall Bruce

Los Angeles