Since I seem to be doing a lot of talking the talk with out any concomitant walking of the walk, and because I'm interested in this thread actually doing something interesting for a change, I'll give an example of what I mean by justifying the opinion from a formalist perspective.
The building above is an absolutely brilliant piece of modernist architecture. It makes very interesting use of asymmetrical, almost random use of line to create interesting shape and geometry to an unconventional building. The use of thin, red lines in the support structure creates a buzzing, flurried jumbled vortex shooting vertically, while an enveloping iron ring around the outside contains the red mass inside giving the piece balance and stability. The theme is continued as the form leans to the left, extending out to hold the actual building proper as the red mass of lines tapers off leaving a more orderly and elegant ring of red to hold the sleek, modern looking cylindrical room.
The color of the structure is particularly interesting. The red dominates the lower parts of the structure and are what the eye immediately sees, but the red is not overwhelming as the cooler silvers and blue-greens of the rest of the structure mute the red, somewhat. The color is in your face, but it doesn't overwhelm you completely.
Contextually the tower serves as a brilliant contrast to the neighboring Olympic Stadium. The stadium employs simple tressing and basic, symmetrical, repeated patters in its bars for the orderly, and no-nonsense practical structure. Standing next to it the messy, seemingly random and asymmetrical tower stands out immediately and the red of the tower played of the bright white of the stadium's background results in the tower moving immediately to the foreground of the viewers eye. At the same time, however, the use in the tower of the tress motifs ensures that the tower synergizes well with the stadium; they feel like they belong together.
Overall the tower is a powerful and eye-catching piece. The asymmetrical shape and bright colors of the support frame are unique and immediately recognizable. At the same time a sober, restrained use of sharp, strong silver spiral staircase keeps the work composed and under control. The actual room of the structure, seemingly placed precariously away from the vortex is almost calming, above the mess of struts below it, and the overall form of the room feels like something out of a sci-fi novel. Ultimately the piece is part of a larger compilation built for the Olympic Village as a whole, and while the tower is a brilliant piece of gaudy brutalism, it still retains the motifs and styles of its environs, resulting in a building which is eye-catching and forward looking, but not so much so that it feels out of place.
Now is something like that really too much to ask?
that building surely look like the knife that usually own by butchers.
