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What are your architectural hot takes?
At a visceral level I hate Art Deco. I'm all for elegance in architecture, but something about it feels so self-aggrandizing, isolating, and hollow. On the other hand, I think Brutalism, when not overdone, is great. A medium sized Brutalist building with a little bit of moss on the outside and an abundance of plants inside, chef's kiss.
Thats funny, I despise brutalist architecture. Why surround ourselves with ugliness?
It's too bad someone figured out that "minimalism" is great for corporate overhead.
I used to think Brutalism was ugly, but these days I really appreciate it in a lot of cases.
I really like the hard lines, I think. My favorite examples tend to use lots of big windows, which both keeps the space from feeling cramped, and naturally lends itself to sharp lines. Not to mention bright spaces allow for sharper shadows which itself creates new opportunities for lines.
I think most people's imagery of Brutalism is bunker style, though. Which I don't really love as much. But I think it's one of those cases where now that I've found versions of it that I love, even the "gross" versions are much more palatable.
One of my favorites: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Wichita_Public_Library_-_Main_Branch2_NRHP_100005629_Sedgwick_County%2C_KS.jpg
There are ugly brutalist buildings. But brutalism is not ugly. It's not the intent of the architectural style and it's not the inevitable result.
America needs to start making buildings (especially residences) with an eye towards them being around a thousand years from now. I shouldn't have to spend 30 years re-tacking the walls up on my shit shack because it was so poorly constructed to begin with that it started falling apart almost immediately. If I can't hand my home down to some version of my family that's long since forgotten my name and my deeds, what's the point of buying?
The kids will sell it and the new owner will tear it down and build a McMansion.
Only if I don't put god's perfect wall covering in there... shiplap. Painted white. With brass metal trim. And a real stone fireplace for some reason.
No decade will top the 80s.
Give me all the Memphis design and neo-expressionism.
I desperately want a conversation pit.
I also want the brown + plants that were leftover from the 70’s and all the neon at the same time.
I like it when all the buildings in a place have a consistent aesthetic. When I see a neighborhood where all the houses look the same I dont think its dystopic or depressing, I just think its a pattern, and sometimes patterns can be appealing.
Conversely when a neighborhood is filled with houses that are all trying to look unique and distinctive it can come across as gaudy and discordant.
It also gives the area as a whole a distinctive look that emphasizes cultural unity instead of individualistic style.
Economic inequality, workmanship issues, and possible money-laundering aside, the new generation of supertalls on Billionaires' Row in New York are cool as fuck. Steinway Tower, 432 Park, even that crazy-ass Big Bend proposal -- they're visually striking and make the skyline feel daring and futuristic:
https://i.imgur.com/UUl5WnR.jpg
https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/unnamed-2-777x1125.jpg
https://i.redd.it/l38z7v32es0d1.jpeg