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I hate to say it but I kind of like it


Sawyer
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See to me its evil not ugly. Ugly to me is the strip mall, the big square concrete buildings:

 

Block II

 

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kind of like that. Boring is ugly to me. This building makes me scared. Part of it is the scale its gi-normous. Now I don't love this building but I want to see it which is all an architectural photograph can do.

 

Its hideous in the way frankenstein is hideous, but ugly to me is when no one tries. Ugly is usually what we usually give to the poor; housing projects, void of creativity and inspiration. Architecture always tells a story and sometimes what is being said is said by what is put into the design but other times the story is told by its lack of design.

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I guess it is an eye of the beholder thing! I agree with all you said, but would add one thought:

Architecture has purpose, by its very nature. The function of the Korean building was 'hotel'. The form and impact of this building didnt relate to that purpose. It was whimsical in an abstract kind of way, but, it is indeed terrifying.

 

The 'stacked box' approach to housing was indeed a line of thought (form follows function) that aspired to tackle a problem. I think the amount of thought that was put in was substantial, but the end result....was kind of detached from the inhabitants human needs (individuality, expression, joy) and we learnt from that failure that we are not logical.. Now the 'stacked box' is still our response to high density housing needs, but we alleviate the mundaneness with lavish materials and higher spaces.

 

So where does that leave the Korean hotel? Its not ugly just because its unfamiliar and foreign. Its ugly because it dodges every conceivable notion of 'holiday'. Contrary to common beleif, there is nothing new in design. We have been designing for thousands of years and 'good' design is a distillation of that process with a hint of fashion thrown into the mix. 'Good' design is reflection of society, human presense, the human condition and a nod of the head towards past, present and future. Throw in some functionality and presto.

Where did that designer come up with that crazy tower?

 

I think there was a large amount of CLIENT INPUT!!!!!!

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I think there was a large amount of CLIENT INPUT!!!!!!

For some reason that makes me think of the Architects Sketch from some unheard of British comedy team:

 

Client 1: Did you say 'knives'?

Mr. Wiggin: Rotating knives, yes.

Client 2: Do I take it that you are proposing to slaughter our tenants?

Mr. Wiggin: ...Does that not fit in with your plans?

Client 1: Not really. We asked for a simple block of flats.

Mr. Wiggin: Oh. I hadn't fully divined your attitude towards the tenants. You

see I mainly design slaughter houses.

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