Archinect - News

'Flintstone House' owner sued by neighbors. Eyesore or Yabba-dabba-doo?

2019-03-19T14:30:00-04:00

The “Flintstones” home in northern California appears to take its architectural cues from the town of Bedrock. The experimental house was built in the 1970s using a technique that involved spraying concrete to create curved walls. The result is a building where Fred and Wilma would feel at home, and it has become a landmark for drivers passing on I-280.

Neighbors of the quirky home in the affluent town of Hillsborough in Northern California aren't exactly fans of the prehistoric-looking architecture, nor the collection of large metal dinosaur and woolly mammoth sculptures on the property, and have sued the current owner, businesswoman Florence Fang, for permit violations and creating "a highly visible eyesore" that is "out of keeping with community standards." The colorful "YABBA-DABBA-DOO" letters along the driveway did not seem to have much of an appeasing effect either.

According to the home's Wikipedia entry, the structure at 45 Berryessa Way was originally designed by architect William Nicholson and built in 1976 "as one of several experimental domed buildings using new materials." The facade got its deep orange hue in 2000, and the house sold to Florence Fang in 2017 for $2.8 million.

Check out some impressions from the realtor's website for the property (all images via flintstonehouse280.com).

East Taiheng "Glasswalk" terrifies tourists with glass-cracking effect

2017-10-11T16:28:00-04:00

East Taiheng Glasswalk in China is different from other glass-bottomed walkways; it cracks under your feet as you walk on it.

But don't worry too much, the cracking is just a special effect to scare visitors, and it works! Watch the video below:

China says no to "weird" architecture

2016-02-22T13:56:00-05:00

A directive issued on Sunday by the State Council, China’s cabinet, and the Communist Party’s Central Committee says no to architecture that is “oversized, xenocentric, weird” and devoid of cultural tradition. Instead, buildings should be “suitable, economic, green and pleasing to the eye.” The directive also calls for an end to gated communities. The guidelines come two months after a high-level meeting to address some of the problems that have arisen as a result of China’s rapid urbanization.

The New York Times notes that this will most likely result in "stricter design standards for public buildings":

Wang Kai, vice president of the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design, under the Ministry of Construction, said that functionality should take precedence in public buildings. “We shouldn’t go overboard in pursuit of appearances,” he said.

Orhan posted a very prescient piece on this back in 2014, when China's President Xi Jinping denounced buildings like the CCTV tower, aka "Big Pants", and the "formerly penis-shaped" People's Daily building (below), for not being "morally inspiring art".