Random Thoughts on Architecture

1. If, upon seeing your new building, the first phrase that occurs to people is "hot mess," maybe it didn't succeed. Looking at you, Frank Gehry.

2. I know I am damning with faint praise, but I do believe that not all concrete Brutalist buildings suck. But one must work hard for them to have an element of grace, and it always helps to have lots of trees. They can look good against the plain gray walls, and they soften the whole enterprise immensely.

3. Avoid arbitrary stabs at local relevance. A new high-rise building in Somerville features a dreadful faux terra cotta material, intended to honor Somerville's brick-making heritage. No one cares about the historical tie-in, but they do care if a building actually looks good, which this one does not. By "no one" and "they" I mean "me."

4. People, please note that a 1950s suburban ranch home isn't "mid-century modern."

5. I.M. Pei's glass addition to the Louvre Museum, known as the Louvre Pyramid, is one of the best and most influential buildings of the last 50 years. Controversial at the time because of it's extreme difference from the original museum, it is now the norm, owing to the insight that it is a fool's errand to try to compete with or even complement the original historic structure, baroque, classical, or otherwise.

6. Functionality is the non-negotiable in architecture, making it different from the "fine arts." Case in point: Brad Pitt was well-intentioned when he enlisted a bunch of starchitects to design homes for New Orleans residents displaced by Katrina in 2005. Seemed like a good idea at the time. However, earlier this year, Pitt agreed to pay 20 million dollars to repair these homes, most or many of which are leaking and falling apart.

7. Frank Lloyd Wright's artistic reputation and standing as a 20th century giant is as unimpeachable as say, Bob Dylan's or Chuck Berry's, but as original, striking, and elegant as his buildings can be, they can also come across as overbearing at times. But, hey, tons of people find Dylan's voice unlistenable. 

8. I'm almost scared to ask, but are we finally done with the Tiny House fad? Actually, I think so. All the energy has moved to the creation of tricked out, liveable vans. Sort of a hipster version of RVs. This fad actually makes more sense than the Tiny House, because you are mobile.

Bonus Thought:

9. Old brick looks better than new brick.