Calatrava in Milwaukee

The weather on the drive from Chicago to Milwaukee today was pretty intense.  No precipitation.  Just large cumulus clouds hanging above.  As we got closer to Milwaukee, the clouds became more dense, losing their form and dimensionality, but after lunch the sun kept popping through, creating interesting light.  

Unfortunately, the Milwaukee Art Museum staged its annual art fair over the weekend, which meant big ugly tents on the sidewalk and driveway in front of Santiago Calatrava's new addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum.  It actually isn't so new any more, but it still looks great.  The tents meant that I had to use a longer lens than I would have liked, but the main story here is the interaction of the building's "wings" with the clouds.  

The technical term for the wings is brise soleil, which is an architectural element often used in glass buildings to prevent overheating.  Such a device need not be as elaborate as the Calatrava wings.  Le Corbusier used patterned concrete walls to address overheating as part of his designs.