Are the curvaceous glass forms of the IAC headquarters building, evoking the crisp pleats of a skirt, a bold departure from Manhattan’s hard-edged corporate towers? Or are they proof that Mr. Gehry’s radical days are behind him?
You wouldn't believe the boring crap he's building here for the Art Gallery of Ontario's newest reno. (our big institutions are built out of popsicle sticks and Bondo so they have to torn down and rebuilt every twenty years) We're not even getting the curvy shit, just some tinfoil wrapped flat pieces of cardboard that will represent hockey ice because it's the only concept we can grasp.
But I know I'm going to love it.
Curbed picked up on this--the Times critic only got really excited about the service stairwell:
...It may qualify as the most blandly corporate space Mr. Gehry has created.
Compare this with the service stairwell at the back of the building. Made of rough exposed concrete, the 10-story staircase is pulled back from the glass facade, creating a narrow, vertigo-inducing slot that allows you to peer down into an outdoor courtyard. The staircase overlooks a romantic, perfectly framed view of the Empire State Building, but the clash of raw concrete, glass and aluminum has more in sympathy with the surrounding rooftops: a clear indication of where Mr. Gehry’s heart lies. It may be the most gorgeous service staircase anywhere in New York. (It has now been painted various shades of yellow, however, dulling the effect.)
ha ha. the idea of not getting a good gehry. as though...
this building is dreadful. all square pegs in round holes. but i have been known to prefer certain dreadful buildings over developer specials (see nyu dorm buildings on 3rd ave for examples of the bad). i watched this special on gehry on 13 recently which was worthwhile. he is a likeable enough guy but he seems to take an ass-backward approach to building. making the final product conform to free form drawings, then crunching construction material to fit. (im ok with only one project, the disney concert hall. with that building the form was determined from the inside out based on existing acoustical engineering science.) in the documentary the client diller was pressing for a building that reflected his interest in sailboats (white sails) and sailing. puke! the white to clear auto glass windows are laugh out loud funny. im glad it was built and glad that it is where it is, but i hate it on so many levels.
heres the curbed link tom mentioned.
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- bill 3-23-2007 2:39 am
You wouldn't believe the boring crap he's building here for the Art Gallery of Ontario's newest reno. (our big institutions are built out of popsicle sticks and Bondo so they have to torn down and rebuilt every twenty years) We're not even getting the curvy shit, just some tinfoil wrapped flat pieces of cardboard that will represent hockey ice because it's the only concept we can grasp.
But I know I'm going to love it.
- L.M. 3-23-2007 3:14 am [add a comment]
Curbed picked up on this--the Times critic only got really excited about the service stairwell:
- tom moody 3-23-2007 3:56 am [add a comment]
ha ha. the idea of not getting a good gehry. as though...
this building is dreadful. all square pegs in round holes. but i have been known to prefer certain dreadful buildings over developer specials (see nyu dorm buildings on 3rd ave for examples of the bad). i watched this special on gehry on 13 recently which was worthwhile. he is a likeable enough guy but he seems to take an ass-backward approach to building. making the final product conform to free form drawings, then crunching construction material to fit. (im ok with only one project, the disney concert hall. with that building the form was determined from the inside out based on existing acoustical engineering science.) in the documentary the client diller was pressing for a building that reflected his interest in sailboats (white sails) and sailing. puke! the white to clear auto glass windows are laugh out loud funny. im glad it was built and glad that it is where it is, but i hate it on so many levels.
- bill 3-23-2007 4:39 pm [add a comment]
heres the curbed link tom mentioned.
- bill 3-23-2007 5:25 pm [add a comment]