thoughts on modern architecture?

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Calgary Flames

That looks terrible...

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

Bleh... the most boring least distinct downtown ever....

Okay, well not that bad. But I find Vancouver nothing but a bunch of cookie cutter glass/steel condo buildings. Unforutunately it looks like Calgary is headed that way a bit. As long as they are broken up by some interesting signature buildings it won't be too bad though. Just not one big chunk of identicle condos like Vancouver.

[oldschoolcalgary]

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.

its probably because the three guys doing the project are educated as architects, and have worked, at one point or another, at all the "design" firms in town...

they got sick of compromising their designs for either clients or budget...by going into developing, they figured they'd be able to do want they wanted, so long as they thought the project would sell...its not capital "A" Architecture, but for their first project, I think they've decided to reign things in a bit...so they don't go bankrupt!

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.

luckily, decon is dead for the most part...the best architecture always stands the test of time, like Lou Kahn, Tadao Ando...Stone, or monolithic construction is great, but nowadays, nothing is monolithic, just tacked on crap on the skin of the buildings...

if you are downtown, compare the Bang and Olfasen (sp?) to buildings made out of real sandstone...or the incredible beauty of the Hudson's Bay Building - the detailing on the outside is crazy!

Glass, steel and concrete can be amazing, unfortunately there are few example in Calgary (Nexen, TCPL, any Jack Long building)...

[RogerWilco]

Originally Posted by Circa89

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.

You know lots about Architecture, everyone does. We all live, work, and play in it every day. Unless you live in the woods or a really big field. At times that is the problem with Architects and Architecture. We as a community , at times, have lost touch with the public. Star architects tend to provide designs that only appeal to other architects or some kind of crazy little artistic niche that doesn't connect with the public. That is where I feel we fail as a profession. Architects trying to one up the next Architect. The thing I always find funny is that if you tell someone that you are an Architect they think you are rich. Most Architects make less than a teacher in this country and about the same as a teacher in the US. I am not trying to say that architects should make more than a teacher, I am just trying to put it into perspective.

So to bring this back to the original topic. Architecs are like everone else that enjoys or uses a building. It is a place of work, play, or living. And everyone knows something about architecture.

OK, so after all of that I have lost my train on thought and will try again in the morning. Sleep is my friend.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by LockedOut

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.

um, and you are confidently basing this on what?

[Hakan]

Modern architecture was popular in the 40s and 50s. That was the classic function is form idea and it created some of the most boring buildings you will ever see.

I think you need to get your definitions straight. You're asking about post-modern architecture and, I for one, think it's alot better than the the drab modern epoc.

[oldschoolcalgary]

i guess, technically, we are talking "new modernism" or new minimalism

post modernism was a reaction against modernism...it was junk like Peter Graves, Robert Stern...that used the iconography of architecture in ironic ways....like not having columns touch the ceiling...the post office building in Portland is the only big one I can think of...

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by RogerWilco

The thing I always find funny is that if you tell someone that you are an Architect they think you are rich. Most Architects make less than a teacher in this country and about the same as a teacher in the US. I am not trying to say that architects should make more than a teacher, I am just trying to put it into perspective.

But Mike Brady had a big house, a housekeeper, and a Bunch of kids.

[Jake]

I think modern architecture is a way of celebrating our accomplishments, which are amazing. Races for thousands of years have used it to show power and greatness. I love it and doing it just because we can is a good enough reason for me.