Gaudi, Gaudy. There seems to be a connection. Or I'm a tasteless peasant.
Most of that "architecture" just seemed like stuff that ought to be hanging on the wall of an obscure avant garde museum, out of the way, rather than something that's actually useful. Or so it seems to this tasteless peasant.
A few observations: 4 Lotus temple - Visually stunning! 7 Atomium - Very wikkedly creative. 8 Museum of Contemporary Art - Ok, this architect was obviously a major Jetson's fan growing up. 10 Wales house - There be Hobbits here!! 13 Habitat 67 - Ummmmm......not just no, but hell no! 20 House Attack - Trippy and very cool. 23 Ideal Palace - Not so sure about that *ideal* part. 0>;~/ 25 Eden Project - Kurt Vonnnegut was very proud, I'm sure. 26 Museum of Play - I hope no one has a fear of heights... 33 Wooden Gagster House - Nuh uh! That's Merlin's house from Disney's The Sword and the Stone - at :47 and 1:00. (The entire re-make move trailer this person did is pretty cool, fwiw.)
I also like Gaudi. Like they say, variety is the spice of life. Interesting that some of these buildings are in either collections of World's Ugliest Buildigs or World's Coolest Buildings.
There are several of those that I particularly like, at least as photographs. I'd want to see them in person to make a final judgment, of course. The ones I like are ones that give the impression of being outgrowths of nature, and I'd want to see how well that held up without the benefit of the camera.
I have actually seen one of these buildings in person -- #29 in Pigeon Forge, TN. It's not one I particularly like even as a picture, but it is striking.
I find Gaudi interesting, but not in my taste, generally. His design for La Sagrada Familia is particularly interesting, not just for the back-story on his working on it, but for the rigor with which he designed it - using weighted strings do 'draw' parabolic arches in the air, which he then inverted to become the cathedral. Working with the forces of nature to develop the structure- that's probably why it seems so organic, almost looking like a living creature from certain angles.
The Brasilia Cathedral and the 'Jetson's' Contemporary Art Museum are both Oscar Neimeyer. All his stuff looks like those. He's someone for whom I have no respect. An avowed communist supporter who does very high end and civil works. He designed the 'from scratch' capital city of Brasil- Brasilia. It's been highly criticized as not working very well.
Unsurprisingly, the Atomium was a design for Expo '58.
The Dynamic Tower in Dubai is actually a proposal, still unbuilt.
Habitat '67 is a design by Moshe Safdie that was a proposal for low cost housing using a pre-fab unitary modular system, built for Expo '67. The ideas were that you would get more access to air and light than if it were a conventional big box 'filing cabinet' type apartment house. I've never actually even read anyone's experiences in it, but it's not low-cost housing anymore- it's highly desirable as landmark living, and so is rather pricey now.
I'd never seen the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, but it's intriguing.
I like to jokingly argue that the Longaberger Basket Company Building (which looks like a giant basket) is really Modernism (form follows function), not Post-moderndism (decorated shed) because the function of a bsket company is to make and sell baskets, and this building is designed to sell baskets!
The Sagrada Familia puts me in mind of the kind of sand castle you make with saturated sand dripped onto itself like a candle melted over a Chianti bottle.
Gaudi really does it for me. Every time I see it it's like a bolt to the heart, and I answer "YES." Not that I'd ever try to build such a thing. We have a standard Gulf-Coast plantation house with nice easy straight lines and a thoroughly traditional structure. What a nightmare, and what an incredible pleasure, his stuff must have been to build.
Gaudi, Gaudy. There seems to be a connection. Or I'm a tasteless peasant.
ReplyDeleteMost of that "architecture" just seemed like stuff that ought to be hanging on the wall of an obscure avant garde museum, out of the way, rather than something that's actually useful. Or so it seems to this tasteless peasant.
Eric Hines
A few observations:
ReplyDelete4 Lotus temple - Visually stunning!
7 Atomium - Very wikkedly creative.
8 Museum of Contemporary Art - Ok, this architect was obviously a major Jetson's fan growing up.
10 Wales house - There be Hobbits here!!
13 Habitat 67 - Ummmmm......not just no, but hell no!
20 House Attack - Trippy and very cool.
23 Ideal Palace - Not so sure about that *ideal* part. 0>;~/
25 Eden Project - Kurt Vonnnegut was very proud, I'm sure.
26 Museum of Play - I hope no one has a fear of heights...
33 Wooden Gagster House - Nuh uh! That's Merlin's house from Disney's The Sword and the Stone - at :47 and 1:00. (The entire re-make move trailer this person did is pretty cool, fwiw.)
I also like Gaudi. Like they say, variety is the spice of life. Interesting that some of these buildings are in either collections of World's Ugliest Buildigs or World's Coolest Buildings.
ReplyDeleteAll in the mind of the beholder.
http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/the-worlds-ugliest-buildings
http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-coolest-buildings
There are several of those that I particularly like, at least as photographs. I'd want to see them in person to make a final judgment, of course. The ones I like are ones that give the impression of being outgrowths of nature, and I'd want to see how well that held up without the benefit of the camera.
ReplyDeleteI have actually seen one of these buildings in person -- #29 in Pigeon Forge, TN. It's not one I particularly like even as a picture, but it is striking.
Hmmm, interesting taste, Tex.
ReplyDeleteI find Gaudi interesting, but not in my taste, generally. His design for La Sagrada Familia is particularly interesting, not just for the back-story on his working on it, but for the rigor with which he designed it - using weighted strings do 'draw' parabolic arches in the air, which he then inverted to become the cathedral. Working with the forces of nature to develop the structure- that's probably why it seems so organic, almost looking like a living creature from certain angles.
The Brasilia Cathedral and the 'Jetson's' Contemporary Art Museum are both Oscar Neimeyer. All his stuff looks like those. He's someone for whom I have no respect. An avowed communist supporter who does very high end and civil works. He designed the 'from scratch' capital city of Brasil- Brasilia. It's been highly criticized as not working very well.
Unsurprisingly, the Atomium was a design for Expo '58.
The Dynamic Tower in Dubai is actually a proposal, still unbuilt.
Habitat '67 is a design by Moshe Safdie that was a proposal for low cost housing using a pre-fab unitary modular system, built for Expo '67. The ideas were that you would get more access to air and light than if it were a conventional big box 'filing cabinet' type apartment house. I've never actually even read anyone's experiences in it, but it's not low-cost housing anymore- it's highly desirable as landmark living, and so is rather pricey now.
I have to say that the Conch Shell house reminds me of the explorations into architecture done by Roger Dean (famous in the 70's for his album cover art). He did some pretty incredible stages for Yes also.
I'd never seen the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, but it's intriguing.
I like to jokingly argue that the Longaberger Basket Company Building (which looks like a giant basket) is really Modernism (form follows function), not Post-moderndism (decorated shed) because the function of a bsket company is to make and sell baskets, and this building is designed to sell baskets!
I wonder if Grim might like Thorncrown chapel...
The Sagrada Familia puts me in mind of the kind of sand castle you make with saturated sand dripped onto itself like a candle melted over a Chianti bottle.
ReplyDeleteGaudi really does it for me. Every time I see it it's like a bolt to the heart, and I answer "YES." Not that I'd ever try to build such a thing. We have a standard Gulf-Coast plantation house with nice easy straight lines and a thoroughly traditional structure. What a nightmare, and what an incredible pleasure, his stuff must have been to build.
I'm not sure if I do like it, Douglas. It might be one I would have to see in person.
ReplyDelete