Posted on 08/30/2007 1:01:09 PM PDT by r-q-tek86
In February, the American Institute of Architects released a voter-compiled list of the country’s favorite 150 buildings. Ask a friend who knows absolutely nothing about architecture — you shouldn’t have to look far to find one — to name 10 of the country’s most famous buildings. There’s no doubt that his list will include some of the AIA’s chart-toppers, like the Empire State Building, White House, and Chrysler Building.
Yawn!
In response to the national list, which corresponded to AIA’s 150th anniversary, the Fort Worth chapter compiled a local top-25. The group sent questionnaires to all 468 of its members and published the results in the July 8 edition of the daily paper of record. All of the usual suspects made the top 10: The Kimbell Art Museum was No. 1, followed in order by Marty Leonard Chapel, Tarrant County Courthouse, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, (snip)
Yawn!
Feeling inspired, we decided to come up with our own — though I am loath to use the term “list.” Actually, it’s more like a conversation about cool buildings. A couple of months ago, I asked readers for their favorite, off-the-beaten-path buildings. We got a few responses. Most of them were unusable (we all know how great the Kimbell is — sheesh), but some were great. Some folks said they loved Building X because it reminded them of a place they lived by when they were kids. Some respondents said they loved Building Y because it’s so ugly that you can’t help but be charmed by its sincere, misplaced confidence. All of which brings up an important and often overlooked reality about architecture: Whether we’re paying attention or not, or whether we’re licensed architects or not, architecture affects all of us. We all have to live, work, or play somewhere, right?
(Excerpt) Read more at fwweekly.com ...
Their choices look better than what you usually see on the professional architects lists.
Now, if they really wanted to be creative, they’d do the 10 ugliest buildings in town.
Some AIA chapters do a thing called “Orchids and Onions” where they pick the best and worst. We’ve discussed it for Fort Worth, but have not done it.
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