From Frida Kahlo to "Star Wars": George Lucas's Billion-Dollar Museum Completed in Los Angeles

From Frida Kahlo to "Star Wars": George Lucas's billion-dollar museum completed in Los Angeles

In Los Angeles, the construction of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, founded by "Star Wars" creator George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson, has been completed. More than 10 years were spent on the development and construction of the project, and its cost amounted to approximately one billion dollars. More than 150 architects, engineers, and designers participated in the construction of the museum.

The building was designed by the MAD Architects bureau. Initially, the museum was planned to be built in Chicago — the first version was presented back in 2014, but later the project was completely redesigned and moved to Los Angeles. It was scheduled to open in 2021.

The museum has become the centerpiece of a nearly 5.3-hectare public park. Its earthquake-resistant concrete and steel frame is clad in 1,200 panels reinforced with fiberglass polymer — each with a unique shape and placement. According to representatives of MAD Architects, technologies allowing the manufacture of such elements with the necessary precision have only appeared in recent years. Both robots and manual labor were used in the production process.

There is not a single straight line in the main shell of the building. The large curved body is slightly elevated above the ground, which allowed for the creation of a covered space beneath it. The central steel arch stretches for 56 meters, and at the height of the fourth floor, there is an elliptical opening through which visitors can view the sky.

The five-story building houses more than 30 galleries dedicated to the history of visual storytelling from ancient times to the present day. One of the collections displays a self-portrait of Frida Kahlo, ancient Egyptian pottery, and materials related to "Star Wars," including the battle scene between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, side by side. Inside the building, there are also two modern movie theaters, a horseshoe-shaped library, classrooms, a shop, and a cafe.

Environmental solutions are also provided for in the project. To the northwest of the complex, there is a large fountain connected to a cooling system consisting of 714 geothermal wells, each 111 meters deep. Solar panels have been installed on the roof and a green area has been created, while 300 new trees have been planted around the museum. The park also features a hanging garden, an amphitheater, lawns, and public spaces. The museum will officially open to visitors on September 22.