Unusual architecture

12/8/04 | Republican Professor

[Republicanprofessor]

Has anyone else seen architecture that looks like this? Its proper name is 30 St Mary Axe, or the Swiss Re Headquarters, in London, but it’s colloquially called the Gherkin. Supposedly, the spiral shape allows more fresh air than is normally true of (stuffy) office buildings. It also makes the most of natural light. It thus saves a great deal of energy (like 50% less than most high-rises). There is even less wind to trouble pedestrians. But it still looks really ugly to me. What do you all think?

[SoDak]

The theory being that all great things have already been built.

[bonfire]

Bi-levels are worse! At least you can disguise a split on the outside.

[SoDak]

I live in a 3 story, there's no hiding it from anyone.

[maine-iac7]

the dreaded split-foyer house

Amen to that -

funny - I drove past one today with my niece and told her that had to be my least favorite house design, - "ranch" house next...altho' I got stuck with a 'ranch' - but you'd never know from the inside - I totally rearranged the inside/walls, extra windows, flowing open space, etc...can't take little box-rooms.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Looks like a giant bullet.

Could be dangerous. People might start looking at the crime and think hmmmm if only I had a few of those....

[bonfire]

I just bought a 1870 victorian. beginning to have some regret........:)

[maine-iac7]

just bought a 1870 victorian. beginning to have some regret........:)Well, at least it's only a "single" regret ;p)

Seriously - lived many years in a Victorian built in 1873 - family home for decades - (back east) - That house will still be standing when all the new ones are history. A lot of work was done by ships carpenter's on down time...incredible work. huge winding banister on front hall, reverse molding, stenciling - even still had some original milk paint...but, oh, those high ceilings! Horrendous to heat - kitchen was the place to be in the winter - toes on the runner of the old Clarion...

[bonfire]

Looking at my molding now......what's "reverse molding"?

[Republicanprofessor]

I like your coffee pot adaptation better than the original. It has some humor! Like Claus Oldenburg's sculpture.

[uncitizen]

I don't see a heckofa lot of "synergy" in the rest of the city!

I'd agree with that. However, the new building could've helped the situation, instead of hurting it.

[SoDak]

Mine is an 1896. I love it, but it takes a LOT of work. It's worth it to not be stuck in a cracker box in a stepford neighborhood though.

[Born to Conserve]

"The theory being that all great things have already been built."

I think you are accusing me of something?

For two hundred years, in my area, farmers perfected the roofs and walls and basements and windows of their farmhouses. They were adapting to the climate and the available materials. The results were beautiful architecture.

Then, liberals, who hate anything old, come along and want houses with flat leaky roofs and huge Daffy windows, with fake stone and brick that goes out of style faster than ties. Sure, you can say it is cheaper to build them this way, but I know of many multimillion dollar houses that are UGLY, and CHEAP, INEFFICIENT.

The theory being that the past can provide us with more knowledge and wisdom than a bunch of liberal change-for-the-sake-of-change architects.

Or did I miss understand you?

[bonfire]

We are UNdoing all the updates the previous owner did. He had good intentions, but didn't do anything correctly.

[SoDak]

It would have been easier to buy a new one, and live with it, but it's gratifying to change things for the better and be able to take credit for it.

[valkyrieanne]

I can think of another name for it, but it's not printable.

[maine-iac7]

what's "reverse molding"?

for example: at the juncture of the walls and ceilings - ornate woodwork (sometime molded plaster that looks like wood) that has designs = hmmm - hard to describe - 'scooped inward" - OUrs had many widths and ins and outs - and were painted, originally, with milk paint in different soft, light colors...

I guess the best description would be of a combination of "crown" molding - which 'rounds' outward - and then the reverse, which scoops inward...

clear as mud?

[bonfire]

There are no molding at our ceilings. :(

[SoDak]

Oh, not at all. I really wonder if all the really great things have been built, and if we haven't, as a society, decided to live with cheap, overly practical, disposable buildings. I much prefer older buildings. My house, as I said, is an 1896 model.

[SoDak]

That's been the story of my last 6 months. I've been yanking all the cheesy crap out, and taking it back to how it looked in it's early days. I took 7 layers of various flooring types out of my kitchen before I got to the original wood. I've also been removing 70's paneling en masse.

[maine-iac7]

We are UNdoing all the updates the previous owner did. He had good intentions, but didn't do anything correctly.

LOL -

Know right where you're at!

my Aunt sold her's in the mid 1980's, they had been only the 3rd owners! And they kept the incredible fancy slate tiled roofs - on turrets and all...and the woodwork, hardware, everything was original - except for oil furnace! Still had the big black soapstone sink, the pantry, the wood stove (well, also had electric and frig) the maid's bell under the dining room carpet with the signal box on the kitchen wall - had the old copper tubs and wood burning heater for laundry in the room between the house and barn - had the old cistern in the cellar and the collecting tank (run off rainwater from roof) in the attic...etc. (My Uncle had been a doctor and his office had been in a suite of rooms with separate entrance at one end of the house.)

After she sold it, the new owner restored it beautifully - and it's still the gem she was when built. I had an antique Library table set in the bay windows (sunny side) windows 6' tall) and my bed a big old Victorian with high, carved back - in the room up over living room - same size bay windows. I did love that place.! But when I pay the oil bill now - I'm happy with my low ceilings! )