thoughts on modern architecture? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

oldschoolcalgary · 06-04-2006, 10:41 AM

the encana thread got me thinking...

so, I am curious what are people's thoughts on modern architecture? Its one thing to want to have great institutional/civic projects that are modern, but how about living in a modernist design?

Is it something you would actively seek? or pay more for? Towers, as a result of the construction methods are generally modern, but for smaller projects, the modernist style is the exception (like Olive) rather than the norm...

I am curious, as I know someone who is trying to develop something very modern (for Calgary), and am wondering whether this is something that will fly, or bomb...

btw, check out the new Olympic Stadium in Beijing from Herzog&deMeuron....40000 tonnes of steel!

BlackArcher101 · 06-04-2006, 11:31 AM

Oh goodie, now it will be even harder to find steel we need.

I'm not a fan of architecture that wastes material just for looks. I go for function first, then looks. The amount of steel in that stadium is disjusting and will put a nice dent in the supply (which is low already). I'm sure they could achieve the same thing, but with less material and a slightly changed design.

oldschoolcalgary · 06-04-2006, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Oh goodie, now it will be even harder to find steel we need.

well, i guess it'll keep the "ship breakers" in India busy for a while, that's for sure...

Maritime Q-Scout · 06-04-2006, 11:43 AM

steel is hard to find? This seems like it's an incorrect statement coming from a town that's steel plant (second largest in Canada) recently closed, unable to break even let alone make a profit, and accounts for 1/3 of the Nova Scotia debt.

(not saying it shouldn't have been closed, just questioning how much of a supply shortage there really is)

BlackArcher101 · 06-04-2006, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

steel is hard to find? This seems like it's an incorrect statement coming from a town that's steel plant (second largest in Canada) recently closed, unable to break even let alone make a profit, and accounts for 1/3 of the Nova Scotia debt.

(not saying it shouldn't have been closed, just questioning how much of a supply shortage there really is)

Suprisingly it is. We've recently had to find steel in Mexico and get it shipped here. Paid an arm and a leg for it.

Maybe the foundry closed due to being run into the ground by management? I dunno.

oldschoolcalgary · 06-04-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I'm not a fan of architecture that wastes material just for looks. I go for function first, then looks. The amount of steel in that stadium is disjusting and will put a nice dent in the supply (which is low already). I'm sure they could achieve the same thing, but with less material and a slightly changed design.

well, believe it or not, the amount of steel in the project dropped from 80 000 tonnes, to 50 000, and now down to 40 000...

so there have been changes to the design...

China is insane right now:

Quote:

The Chinese consume 54.7 percent of the concrete and 36.1 percent of the steel produced in the world, according to a 2004 report in Architectural Record.

I think there is 100 cities in China over 1 million people! That's insane! Calgary isn't even quite at a million yet...

anyways, here is one construction photo I found:

I know its my own fault for hijacking the thread, but going back to the initial premise - do you guys like modernism? More importantly, is it something you'd pay for?

snappyk · 06-04-2006, 05:45 PM

I personally still like the older constructions of buildings, stuff from the 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's. I've been to Chicago a couple of times, just the history of the buildings there are something else to look at.

LockedOut · 06-04-2006, 05:56 PM

I'm glad I don't have to live close to that thing. What an eyesore. That'll be Beijing's version of Montreal's Olympic Stadium down the road I predict with confidence.

RogerWilco · 06-04-2006, 08:02 PM

Thoughts on modern Architecture is a pretty big subject to define from one picture. There are countless incarnations of modern architecture all over the world. I will just compare the image that you attached and than the construction image that is shown a little further down in the thread.
The computer generated image has an overall form that I think it is trying to project. The problem is that the form is made out of a mess of intertwining linear steel that projects the overall form of the building but has no other interest at all. It just look like a mess to me.
The construction picture shown later in the thread has some of the same intertwining elements in a more repeating but separated
fashion with a variation on each that helps create more interest to the eye. I would hope that the way they actually create the skin of the building will help to keep interest on these elements and not distract by being a little more subdued so that these objects are the focus of attention and not distract from them by creating more of the intertwining mess. On there own the elements are not a mess, but if you make the entire building the same it will be a mess.

That is my opinion anyway.

oldschoolcalgary · 06-04-2006, 09:12 PM

interesting...personally, I am looking forward to the project-the separated elements in the construction photo will eventually be joined so that the original rendering will be manifest.

i am sure we'll be seeing this on TLC's marvels of engineering at some point in the future: just look at the size of those trusses!

RogerWilco · 06-04-2006, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

interesting...personally, I am looking forward to the project-the separated elements in the construction photo will eventually be joined so that the original rendering will be manifest.

i am sure we'll be seeing this on TLC's marvels of engineering at some point in the future: just look at the size of those trusses!

OK, now that you point out that this will look like the rendering I do see that many of the lines do line up with the next structural piece. It does look like it will look like the rendering when done. I feel that it would be cool if the structural components we see in the photo were kept a little more separate so that they would become individual elements on their own, creating some repetition within the entire form on the building. So that it does look like one element as a whole but with defined elements that you can make out individually. But than again that is my opinion. Architecture is art (or should be art) and any individual should be able to form their own opinion. That is what can make Architecture fun

oldschoolcalgary · 06-04-2006, 10:21 PM

well, from what I've read, there's a cultural connection too - the chinese are calling it "the bird's nest"...which is a good thing I guess...I know bird's nest soup is really expensive...it also looks like their fried noodle baskets (usually filled with veggies and chicken, though I don't know what the dish is called)...

here's some more images for those who are interested:

fantastic renderings though...

RogerWilco · 06-04-2006, 10:33 PM

It is a great building that is for sure!!!

oldschoolcalgary · 06-04-2006, 10:39 PM

i'm a huge fan of Herzog & de Mueron, the swiss architects who designed it, so I am really, really looking forward to seeing it built - it'll be their biggest project to date...

I think it'll be astonishing...

oldschoolcalgary · 06-04-2006, 10:51 PM

here's a new condo project going into parkdale (i know the designers)...i think it looks pretty cool...

I am anxious to see if the design goes over well in calgary...we'll see...

RogerWilco · 06-04-2006, 11:10 PM

Well that Condo project looks OK. There is nothing there that look all that new or inovative but should go over well. From the interior view it looks like there will be some studio type units. I like studio type units, they tend to appeal to the new age singles or professionals starting their life out with some money to burn in their pocket. If you drive around the sunnyside area you will see many small condo type developments just like this. The exterior view is a little 70's style for my taste.

Edit... but all in all it looks like a good project. It is very rare that you come across something that has not been done before. Nice looking building.

I would also like to add that my work is aslo a collection of the past. Architects love to talk about each others work and crit the negatives. I have now worked in the field long enough to understand that if someone doesn't like my work to not take it personally. Architecture is full of a ton of arogant pricks (I can be included in that group at times, I mean you have to defend your work) that I realize all that maters is if you client is happy and can sell the product for a resonable profit. The rest is just opinion. But I love to give my opinion. And I love to see new projects.

oldschoolcalgary · 06-04-2006, 11:33 PM

yeah...roger - definitely some 70's influence...

I think they are hoping to capitalize on a younger generation that wants something "different"...its not going to be huge it looks like, so they probably don't have to appeal to too many people in order for it to do well...

EDIT

Quote:

Architecture is full of a ton of arogant pricks

LOL...you're right on that one, that's for sure! The work is the work...you do your best, and if you're happy with it (and the client too), that's all you can ask for...

RogerWilco · 06-04-2006, 11:53 PM

It is a great rendering. I like the look. It is fun in a way that much of what is going up now is not. I enjoy seeing new projects that have some good design quality like this one. Many times you have a developer that wants a box with the decks slapped on the outside of the box and the rest is just makeup. This condo has some 3_D qualities that helps it become architecture rather than a building.

Circa89 · 06-05-2006, 12:04 AM

My only concern with modern architecture is the deconstructionist look. I believe that is what it is called. Where someone will place exposed beams on the front of a store and call it an entrance way. I think it looks cool now but in 5 years it will look really dated. We will just look at the steel girders and wires and ask if the developer ran out of money? I know nothing about architecture, all I know is I love walking in downtown Victoria, Montreal or even Toronto alot better than Calgary. I prefer brick and stone to Glass and steel. That being said glass and steel can look great as long as there is plenty of angles and asymmetry to the design. I hate boxes.

Calgary Flames · 06-05-2006, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

here's a new condo project going into parkdale (i know the designers)...i think it looks pretty cool...

I am anxious to see if the design goes over well in calgary...we'll see...

That looks terrible...

I like architechture with alot of glass. I love the condo towers in Vancouver. That's my taste