CGC's Reflections

The design of the building and the landscaping is not only art but a triumph of how man-made structures can become one with its environment, rather than dominating the environment. [This image of the JFK Library and Museums is best viewed in its original large size to appreciate the minimalist but quite regal architecture of this building.]

View from the entry road
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Winter 2007
Columbia Point
Boston, MA, USA

The "square emerald cut" of the glass structure dominates the building. Here, a contrast between a black glass, against the all white solid building -- emphasizes the elegant simplicity and beauty of the building. There were minimal windows, not visible here, except on the left side of the building. Other than minimal artificial lighting; most of the illumination inside comes from the glass atrium and to an extent the glass at the entrance lobby. All the exhibits themselves -- except the large flag in the atrium -- were isolated from the breathtaking views of the Columbia Point with the solid white concrete structure.

What appears here as smudges on the "black" surface of the black glass were reflections of the clouds and the scenery from the equally simple landscaping and scenic views reflected from the Columbia Point. The dominant reflections however comes from the sky so that the visual tableau is a dynamic of each moment of the day and the seasons of the year.

This image of the exterior of the JFK Library and Museum was underexposed to show more detail on the glass atrium including the dark square supports that are more visible inside as part of the intricate supporting columns -- a part of the artistic design itself. View 1 -- 2 -- 3.
This artistic design is best appreciated from the inside and at the lower level of the atrium itself to view the large American flag, the most dominant feature in the atrium display.

I.M. Pei, who designed this building, used variations of this minimimalist glass style in a number of the famous buildings he designed -- including the landmark John Hancock Tower built in the 1970s in Copley Square Boston (the first glass skyscraper of its kind at the time), and the Glass Pyramids of the Louvre Museum in Paris***.

Both the Glass Pyramids of the Louvre Museum in Paris and the Glass Pyramids at the Louvre were quite controversial when they were first built but in time, both became iconic symbols of the respective cities.

The landscaping itself extends and is integrated with the minimalist design of the building, including the use of white for the stone cylindrical structures lining the entry road and the retaining walls of the Boston Harbor. All this will be present also in the future, including the simple but elegant outside staircase that leads to the outside promenade to appreciate the three dimensional exterior of the building from all sides and the scenic views of the Columbia Point.


I did not have a chance to visit the exhibits themselves, for a reason. They do not allow the use of tripod within the exhibit galleries themselves. My hands are not stable enough, and I do not wish to include blurred images here, so I could not show any of the exhibit photos even if I did get inside. I saw the exhibits already when I first came to Boston, many years back.