The Permanent Pop-Up Museum Parties in its New Home

A permanent pop-up museum sounds like a contradiction but that’s long been the state of the A+D Museum, a nimble showcase for design and architecture that’s been a nomad since…

A permanent pop-up museum sounds like a contradiction but that’s long been the state of the A+D Museum, a nimble showcase for design and architecture that’s been a nomad since it came into existence almost ten years ago. Founded by architects Stephen Kanner, Joe Addo and friends, A+D started life in a space at the back of The Bradbury Building; one of its early exhibits was a show of mobile health units created for Cameron Sinclair’s then fledgling group, Architecture For Humanity.

Now the museum has a new and permanent home, shown here in sketch form, at 6032 Wilshire at Fairfax, opposite LACMA West and just a few doors from Ed Cella Art & Architecture. On Tuesday night, A+D will celebrate its new home with a party and fundraiser that all are encouraged to attend. I’ll be co-hosting, along with Councilman Eric Garcetti, Kanner and the museum’s indefatigable and creative director, Tibbie Dunbar. KCRW’s very own Tom Schnabel, who happens also to be an architecture afficionado, will provide the dance party.

A+D has long operated on a shoestring, dependent on the generosity of its supporters. One of them, builder Tom Hinerfeld of Hinerfeld Ward, in concert with designer Stephen Kanner and a team of suppliers, contractors and craftspeople, has done a buildout of the interior that gives the museum a true sense of gravitas as it moves forward. One hopes that in finding a home to call its own, A+D retains the pop-up, guerilla spirit that has kept it fresh all these years.