Ugliest buildings thread

[Traitorfish]

I'm not sure what you're arguing against...?

 

[Kyriakos]

Luiz's point seems to be that instead of 'practical' or meant to be better 'to live in', they (modernist buildings) often had more practical issues too (like water collecting more easily on the roof, or causing some collapse etc).

 

[Traitorfish]

That's really just an observation that modernists are as capable of half-assing technical details as traditionalists, and nobody has disputed that.

 

[luiz]

That's really just an observation that modernists are as capable of half-assing technical details as traditionalists, and nobody has disputed that.

Well I'd say the results of the Modernists were often in the precise opposite direction of their aims, which can't be said of "traditionalists".

 

[Traitorfish]

"Precise opposite" strikes me as hyperbolic.

 

[Kyriakos]

Secret intelligence service building (only one of the main buildings near the Thames in central London ).

That next to it are mostly gothic (and also massive) contructions, makes it look even worse.

*

And,
of course,

my all-time favorite:

pleasant co-existence of the modern and the classic.

 

[luiz]

"Precise opposite" strikes me as hyperbolic.

Well when you claim to be building "homes for humans" or "living machines" and end up with collapsing roofs, I do think it's fair to call it the precise opposite.

I am not condemning Modernism as an idea; and some Modernist works are beautiful. But generally speaking the works of the major names in 20th Century Modernism were dysfunctional, and the results of Modernist experiences in urban planning could very benevolently be called mixed. Strikingly, "Modernist cities" are extremely unfriendly to pedestrians.

 

[GinandTonic]

Often the unfriendliness to pedestrians is a perverse result of trying to build for pedestrians. Milton Keynes, a uk new-town, had the main roads hidden behind cuttings and similar and the pedestrian paths through woodland and underpasses. Deliberately segregating the pedestrians into a faux rural environment seemed a good idea but they had designed out the "eyes on the street" that make people feel safe. People wouldn't walk at night, or tried to walk along roads designed to be separate from pedestrian traffic. Much the same unintended consequences apply to many large housing developments where attempts to design out through traffic or to restrict cars to underground parking have the perverse effect of creating desolate and intimidating environment that, ironically, makes people more inclined to the perceived safety of the car.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Are there any conservatives out there who like modernism?

 

[Josu]

Saint Joseph church, Chicago

 

[Kyriakos]

^That is monstrously ugly :O

 

[Josu]

I am not sure whether it is a phallic image or they are amorphous tits

 

[Kyriakos]

^Given that it appears to be the Chicago Catholic Ukrainian Church, i suppose they meant to have some orthodox-style domes but upon learning the cost they opted for a number of bells

But the domes are not even the worst of that building...

 

[Thorgalaeg]

I think they are ICBMs tube launchers in disguise, so they have something to defend themselves in case Russia invades.

 

[Tahuti]

Strikingly, "Modernist cities" are extremely unfriendly to pedestrians.

I had opened a topic about it some time ago. Basically, modernist cities are designed for cars. Suburbs, are designed for cars.

There was a good old time when cities were still designed for people.

 

[Kyriakos]

I think they are ICBMs tube launchers in disguise, so they have something to defend themselves in case Russia invades.

I think they already gave up, since they are in Chicago

 

[Thorgalaeg]

If the Russians invaded Chicago i meant.

 

[Kyriakos]

^I think that most armies would allow their enemies to live in such a place, in a 'it's own worst punishment' vein

But check out this cool building in Tel Aviv--Israel:

Why would anyone want to live in an opening zipper-formed building? :\

Looks mildly better here, but still dumb and not really functional:

 

[luiz]

Are there any conservatives out there who like modernism?

Modernism was the "official" style of the Estado Novo dictatorship in Brazil, which was a fascist-like regime, and also of the right-wing military regime of 1964-1985. Le Corbusier himself flirted with fascist politics (though most of his followers were communists).

So please, please, don't turn this into another rant against "far-right conservative reactionaries", because you would be way off.

 

[Formaldehyde]

It seems like you are the one engaging in yet another absurd "rant", instead of simply addressing the comment.

But go right ahead and mention even one conservative in this forum who has expressed any positive comments at all regarding modernism in this thread, including you.