2024-11-21T13:01:14-05:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/134671376/hole-no-archinect-s-comparison-of-exterior-facades Julia Ingalls 2015-08-20T09:07:00-04:00 >2019-01-05T12:31:03-05:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/w0/w0q91h4lwtpijwtp.png?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>There's a thin line (or radius, in this case) between what enhances a design and what simply makes it look like it's trying too hard. In the case of buildings with circular openings on their exterior facades, the effect is often visually arresting, but is it good architecture? The <a href="http://archinect.com/forum/thread/48957/green-design-is-good-design-the-cor-building-miami" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">COR building</a> in Miami is arguably a blend of both: its proposed highly sustainable wind turbines, mounted in the circular openings of the exterior facade, make it stand out on the skyline as well as on energy-savings meters. Compare this to the Dream Downtown Hotel in Manhattan (see below), which is...well, it doesn't have wind turbines in its holes, let's put it that way.</p><p><img title="" alt="" src="http://cdn.archinect.net/images/514x/xc/xcjka3ib4ydc96t7.jpg"></p><p>However, the Dream Downtown Hotel is aiming for an altogether different effect, which it achieves brilliantly. Thanks to the combination of stately steel and outsize circular holes, it's quite visually attractive without being ostentatious.</p><p><img title="" alt="" src="http://cdn.archinect.net/images/514x/8s/8s0t3jacguvepx8e.jpg"></p><p>Presumably, guests would want to stay here because it's interesting&nbsp;without tipping over into Las Ve...</p>