Disney Hall’s Glaring Problem

Re “Hit the Dimmer, Disney Hall Is Told,” March 2: I think I have the perfect solution for the glaring issues of Disney Hall. Hire the greatest of all wrappers, Christo, to correct the situation. If we hire him to permanently wrap Frank Gehry’s heavy metal dreamscape, it will not only allow residents to stroll from bedroom to bath without first applying sun block, more tourists will flock to the new Christo creation, as they did in New York’s Central Park. Wrap your head around that idea and the problem is solved.

David Ohman

Irvine

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A concert hall that beams large amounts of light at its neighbors is a little hostile. However, sanding the polished stainless-steel panels is a mediocre solution. The choice here is dumbing down the building or coming up with a solution equal to the building’s architecture. Instead why not install partially transparent solar-glass panels to harvest the light and cool the surrounding area? Excellence is called for here, not sandpaper.

Craig Hibberd

Moab, Utah

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The issue of glare and heat attributable to the polished stainless steel panels at the Disney Hall is another example of the Gehry design firm evading responsibility and liability for design flaws. The March 2 Times article omits informing its readers that, in addition to millions in construction cost overruns, some of the remedial expenditures will be charged to taxpayers. Conversely, should any of the project trade subcontractors have caused delays or been responsible for material or construction deficiencies, their contracts would have mandated they assume the costs of correction and penalties. What immunizes the Gehry firm from responsibility? Fawning accolades cannot disguise that which is properly deserving of exposure.

Jack Ratoff

Los Angeles

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It does not surprise me that corrections are now required to mitigate the heat island created by design elements of Disney Hall. In early 2003, the Grand Avenue Committee and the City of L.A. Community Forest Advisory Committee recommended additional tree plantings to alleviate the “heat island” effect expected to be created around the hall.

Instead, the project removed 55 mature growth trees along Grand Avenue. These much needed trees would have helped cool the affected area. Unfortunately, grand opening deadlines forced the Grand Avenue Committee to forgo the advice, and the rest is history!

Christine Peters

Echo Park