The results are in for Vanity Fair's survey of the best architecture since the 1980s.
'[they] asked the world’s leading architects, critics, and deans of architecture schools two questions: what are the five most important buildings, bridges, or monuments constructed since 1980, and what is the greatest work of architecture thus far in the 21st century.'
The results are in for Vanity Fair's survey of the best architecture since the 1980s.
'[they] asked the world’s leading architects, critics, and deans of architecture schools two questions: what are the five most important buildings, bridges, or monuments constructed since 1980, and what is the greatest work of architecture thus far in the 21st century.'
All I can say is that the folks they asked are mostly living off their pre-bubble glory as starchitects. Most of the buildings selected (with a few exceptions) fail to offer any glimpse into the future of architecture. As I see it, the future of architecture is in sustainability, networked (smart) systems, vernacular and cheap materials - not excessively expensive temples to ego, and energy guzzling/climate inappropriate design as represented by the VF list.
#1 Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain
Year Completed: 1997
Number of Votes: 28
#2 Menil Collection, Houston
Year Completed: 1987
Number of Votes: 10
#3 Thermal Baths, Vals, Switzerland
Year Completed: 1996
Number of Votes: 9
#4 HSBC Building, Hong Kong
Year Completed: 1985
Number of Votes: 7
#5 (tie) Seattle Central Library
Year Completed: 2004
Number of Votes: 6
&
Mediatheque building, Sendai, Japan
Year Completed: 2001
Number of Votes: 6
&
Neue Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart, Germany
Year Completed: 1984
Number of Votes: 6
&
Church of the Light, Osaka, Japan
Year Completed: 1989
Number of Votes: 6
Related is VF writer's Matt Tyrnaur's interview on Charlie Rose about the article. The segment features a not-to-be-missed clip of Philip Johnson sobbing on Frank Gehry's shoulder in the lobby of Bilboa (view the 07.01/10 clip with Matt at 06:12). Tyrnaur also states on CR that 'Po-Mo is dead'!
8 Comments
i saw the interview, and while the number one may seem on it's face, predictable, i can't disagree with the conclusion. FOG created something beyond a great building, something that many have not been able to today. all of us live in the wake created by him and that building, for better or for worse, the reason architects even do anything remotely interesting these days, is because of the notoriety he brought to the profession.
that includes dealing with sustainability, housing and urban issues. even if the response to Gehry is negative: it's still a response to Gehry and his -ism.
There are several other contenders for being the first 'blob' building or first to use catia/similar, so Frank still shouldn't get the crown so easily...
(full disclosure, I worked on Bilboa for FOGA)
barry, i think you'd agree, that bibao is - in the history of architecture - hardly a new phenomenon. there are plenty of seminal works that on the grand scheme, could hardly be thought of singularly spectacular, but almost certainly represent a paradigm shift across the cultural milieu. i can't think of another work in the past 30 years, a singular work, that has created more public reaction and interaction - both negative and positive - than bilbao.
[full disclosure, i was there at bilbao the day after it opened; the day after the basque separatists, blew up a car killing a police officer, outside the museum.]
much of what the current trends are reacting to, is the "bibao effect", FOG himself continues to stoke that fire. if not for bilbao, there certainly would not have been the explosion of starchitects or race to build iconographic structures, and hence, given rise to the pull back and the trend towards sustainability.
i guess i'd be more worried if vanity fair's survey of best architecture took us by surprise!
I agree with Barry on where architecture is headed, or at the very least where I'd like to see it go. And I think there are plenty of important, influential buildings built in the past thirty years that better fit that mold, but if this is a survey essentially of the architecture best befitting that same time period, I think this is fairly comprehensive. The time from the early 1980s until the beginning of the recession, and you could argue continuing to this day, has been one of gross consumption, egotism and bombast in all things, not just architecture. I hope this changes, and I think it has to and will, and I know that that is a huge simplification of the past thirty years, but I think these buildings--many of them worthwhile in their own right--are a good representation of the past thirty years of high architecture distilled to its essence.
"Vanity Fair’s World Architecture Survey - can you say predicable?" no, I can say predictable.
I'm not sure, it depends how "predicable" is pronounced. Is it pronounced "pre-dis-able" or "pre-dick-able"?
I think the only "undebatable" building listed is Bilbao Guggenheim, if that makes if "predicable," "predictable" or "prediccable" -whatever.
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.