The New York Times did an article on the beautiful EIFS Arc d'triomhpe that now graces Atlanta with its pressence. Yet another "Rich Kid" ruining Atlanta.
The best part about it is that the article PRAISES him.
where to start? I can understand the desire to create a classical public space, classical architecture lends itself well to these applications and can pretty much compliment any other architectural style or thought. However to build a grand classical space out of stucco and then replicate the triumphal arch in Paris for no reason is silly. Classicim is about permanance and history and should not be built accordingly with materials for that aim. Classical architecture can also be mixed with very contemp landscape ideas, lighting and contemporary architectural ideas. Even Millenium Park and the Bean, mentioned in the article, have a layer of contemporary art and desing layered over a beaux arts plan.
Also this quote from the article is awesome!!!
"an 82-foot-high stucco-and-limestone version of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, overlooking a small blue lake as if it were the grand finale to a miniature-golf course with an ancient Roman theme"
the arc doesn't bother me at all. it seems to be isolated from the city a bit though, in spite of the foot-bridge over the lake. that is a pity, since it is supposed to be an urban piece, not a dead end...perhaps the photos are just taken from the wrong place and it actually works the way it is supposed to.
if not then its just a big sculptue, and barely worth talking about. certainly not worth worrying over.
we have classical wedding villages dotted all over japan that are kind of the same. basically just isolated classic-y photo-backdrops built in 3d that are visited and never lived in. which is to say, they are irrelevant.
on other hand, maynards neo-classical project in california is STILL popular like a hundred years later, and it was not even intended to last more than one season. i guess time will tell what happens to this place too.
why can't people take the elements of classicism, like arcades, etc and apply them in a contemporary way? obviously people do that, and do it well, but this pastiche classicism is a joke.
is that real trailer trash? trailer trash i knew were not usually ambitious enough to clean the toilet, never mind build something like that...
not that living in trailer park = being trailer trash, mind.
so i guess i wonder are yall pissed cuz some dude builds in a style you don't like, or just that he made a slightly bad urban space while claiming it is good? he didn't at least make another fricking parking lot around a big box...
frankly i think the project is barely worth talking about. more interesting is that the logo of cook's group seems to be giving us the classical finger. thats worth a few points in my book.
who can look at the arch when mr. mims cook jr. is wearing that impeccable suit? do any of you remember that great men's clothing store called "structure"?
i remember finding structure in boston when i got my first job...picked up everything i needed in the conversion from grad student to semi-respectable creative prefessional...
i despise shopping so once i found structure, it became my go-to stop for everything...too bad they're gone...muji next?
The only thing bad about that was that no one made a special overlay design ordinance preventing those god awful logos from being used.
It may not be your neighborhood but you should thank someone that someone actually dropped money into trying to make "nice buildings."
Architects need to remember that the people who look at buildings do not have any architectural background... and to them this is often "good architecture."
^ that's an interesting point. It's like an architect's game of "would you rather"
would you rather wal-mart looking like venice or that it was a plain stucco cmu-box? on one hand you are tarting up interchangeable big-box retail space with EIFS simulacra totally divorced from context, authenticity and function but on the other you have a stucco box without even the slightest hint at design or aesthetics however it is functionally and materially authentic?
Let's see... 'classical' architecture dates back to 2700 BCE when the Minoans pretty much established the general aesthetics of what would become Grecian culture.
That's what... 4700 years of nearly the same basic concepts.
on one hand you are tarting up interchangeable big-box retail space with EIFS simulacra totally divorced from context, authenticity and function but on the other you have a stucco box without even the slightest hint at design or aesthetics however it is functionally and materially authentic?
At least the latter option would be quietly ugly, rather than loudly proclaiming its ugliness for all to see. (Going back to the music analogy, sort of like how some bar bands think that playing louder compensates for having no talent.)
Denver's Cherry Creek area probably won't make the pages of Architectural Record, but at least it seems to do a decent job of proving that big-box retail can exist in an urban setting without paving over an entire neighborhood with parking lots and EIFS.
Another step Back for Atlanta...
The New York Times did an article on the beautiful EIFS Arc d'triomhpe that now graces Atlanta with its pressence. Yet another "Rich Kid" ruining Atlanta.
The best part about it is that the article PRAISES him.
Enjoy!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/us/30arch.html?_r=2&hp
where to start? I can understand the desire to create a classical public space, classical architecture lends itself well to these applications and can pretty much compliment any other architectural style or thought. However to build a grand classical space out of stucco and then replicate the triumphal arch in Paris for no reason is silly. Classicim is about permanance and history and should not be built accordingly with materials for that aim. Classical architecture can also be mixed with very contemp landscape ideas, lighting and contemporary architectural ideas. Even Millenium Park and the Bean, mentioned in the article, have a layer of contemporary art and desing layered over a beaux arts plan.
kudos to mike gamble for being the sole voice of reason in this article
It a'int even attractive. And not because of it's classical style..
Reminds me of Vegas, but without the casinos and prime rib buffet.
Also this quote from the article is awesome!!!
"an 82-foot-high stucco-and-limestone version of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, overlooking a small blue lake as if it were the grand finale to a miniature-golf course with an ancient Roman theme"
Atlants's a (potentially) great city that dunno what to do with itself.
the arc doesn't bother me at all. it seems to be isolated from the city a bit though, in spite of the foot-bridge over the lake. that is a pity, since it is supposed to be an urban piece, not a dead end...perhaps the photos are just taken from the wrong place and it actually works the way it is supposed to.
if not then its just a big sculptue, and barely worth talking about. certainly not worth worrying over.
we have classical wedding villages dotted all over japan that are kind of the same. basically just isolated classic-y photo-backdrops built in 3d that are visited and never lived in. which is to say, they are irrelevant.
on other hand, maynards neo-classical project in california is STILL popular like a hundred years later, and it was not even intended to last more than one season. i guess time will tell what happens to this place too.
Neo-anything.....
rodney cook pretty much embodies everything i despise in architecture culture.
why can't people take the elements of classicism, like arcades, etc and apply them in a contemporary way? obviously people do that, and do it well, but this pastiche classicism is a joke.
i think the arc is sited on a large median on a street leading to ikea in atlantic station. there is nothing urban about it.
also check out dean gardens for another example of rich people with poor taste in atlanta.
I think in general rich people have poor taste. I mean look at Donald Trump.
Trailer trash, on the other hand, are known for their impeccable taste.
(Okay, that's actually pretty fucking cool.)
That Pritzker family, on the other hand...
I laughed out loud the first time I saw it. Important, because free comedy is so hard to come by anymore.
is that real trailer trash? trailer trash i knew were not usually ambitious enough to clean the toilet, never mind build something like that...
not that living in trailer park = being trailer trash, mind.
so i guess i wonder are yall pissed cuz some dude builds in a style you don't like, or just that he made a slightly bad urban space while claiming it is good? he didn't at least make another fricking parking lot around a big box...
frankly i think the project is barely worth talking about. more interesting is that the logo of cook's group seems to be giving us the classical finger. thats worth a few points in my book.
who can look at the arch when mr. mims cook jr. is wearing that impeccable suit? do any of you remember that great men's clothing store called "structure"?
i'm from atlanta. i didn't read the article, but that thing he designed is an embarrassment.
i remember finding structure in boston when i got my first job...picked up everything i needed in the conversion from grad student to semi-respectable creative prefessional...
i despise shopping so once i found structure, it became my go-to stop for everything...too bad they're gone...muji next?
Structure is now express.
Heh...more neoclassical pastiche dreck.
Kinda reminds me of the monstrosity we have North of Houston, called Portofino. It is a big-box strip mall that attempts to emulate Venice...
Best of all, you can take a short ride in a gondola in the parking lot after you finish shopping for doggie kibble!
More images: http://www.experiencethewoodlands.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=40
The only thing bad about that was that no one made a special overlay design ordinance preventing those god awful logos from being used.
It may not be your neighborhood but you should thank someone that someone actually dropped money into trying to make "nice buildings."
Architects need to remember that the people who look at buildings do not have any architectural background... and to them this is often "good architecture."
Lots of people buy Britney Spears albums, but that doesn't mean it's good music.
^ that's an interesting point. It's like an architect's game of "would you rather"
would you rather wal-mart looking like venice or that it was a plain stucco cmu-box? on one hand you are tarting up interchangeable big-box retail space with EIFS simulacra totally divorced from context, authenticity and function but on the other you have a stucco box without even the slightest hint at design or aesthetics however it is functionally and materially authentic?
Let's see... 'classical' architecture dates back to 2700 BCE when the Minoans pretty much established the general aesthetics of what would become Grecian culture.
That's what... 4700 years of nearly the same basic concepts.
Hmm, 4700 years > 120 years.
At least the latter option would be quietly ugly, rather than loudly proclaiming its ugliness for all to see. (Going back to the music analogy, sort of like how some bar bands think that playing louder compensates for having no talent.)
Denver's Cherry Creek area probably won't make the pages of Architectural Record, but at least it seems to do a decent job of proving that big-box retail can exist in an urban setting without paving over an entire neighborhood with parking lots and EIFS.
"Honey, can you stop by the Doge's Palace and pick up some Cat litter? love ya, bye."
"Ok, but if it's the Doggie's Palace, will they have cat stuff?"
My only contribution: 'Arc' and 'arch' are not synonymous.
Or are they ? I keep forgetting it's fucking 2009. . .
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