h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

What's your favourite building and why?

Until you asked this question I wasn't aware that I don't have a favourite building. I really can't answer that. There are many buildings I like, although it's hard to say because most I did only see on pictures!

If I can decide later, I'll tell you.


What's your least favourite building and why?

If you ask about famous architects I must again say that I don't know. There are many that I find not so good although they are important architecture, like stuff by Le Corbusier or the Farnsworth house. Just because you can't live in it.
http://www.designboom.com/portrait/mies/f3.jpg
I also dislike most post modern things. Like the Venturi house... absolutely ugly.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/0/s/G/vannaventurihouse-ppl.jpg
And I don't like much that is built today. All the often public buildings or office buildings which just look like 'we didn't want to make an effort'.
I was also very shocked lately by a shopping centre. It was very huge and was built to look like a little village, even with churches. That must have built by a pervert. I found out the concept is obviously by two Americans. Typical. I can say I really detest it.

http://www.mcarthurglen.at/img/about/vl_outlets.parndorf.jpg

Things like that should be built in Disney land or so, but it is *not* architecture.

Oh, and I also very much dislike the Centre Pompodou. May be a great construction and so, but it’s very ugly in my opinion.
http://www.kottke.org/plus/photos/200105europe/pompidou01.jpg


What buildings have we lost or are in danger of losing due to neglect and disrepair? What buildings should be restored?

If you mean by 'restored' that they shall be built again because they don't exist anymore I clearly say: none. It's something that just shouldn't be done. Unless maybe they belonged to an important ensemble. But in this case also not if they were destroyed long ago. Restoring parts of buildings is ok, of course.
Like the stuff they do in Berlin now: demolish the Palast der Republik to rebuild this castle for millions of Euros. In my opinion letting the old DDR building stand and get out all asbestos would have been historically much more correct than demolish it and rebuild a castle that isn't there anymore for ages. It's neglecting history. It's like pretending the DDR never existed.

http://www.oeku.net/cp/marktgesellschaft/images/marktgesellschaft-35_1.jpg
http://www.deutsche-schutzgebiete.de/webpages/Berlin_Koenigliches_Schloss_.jpg


Is there a building far away you'd love to visit, such as the Taj Mahal?

Oh yes, seeing the Taj Mahal would be great. But I'd also like to see the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and NY, and Fallingwater by Wright.
Oh, and I really would have liked the Crystal Palace by Paxton... pity that it doesn't exist anymore.
Oh yes, and I want to see Knossos and in fact more of Greek architecture, I've never been in Greece.


Was the Bauhaus-influenced functionality of 1960s architecture a complete disaster?

No, not at all. Functionality is important. A building that only is pretty but can't be used... well...


Can buildings make you happier?

Yes, I think so.


Do you know of any buildings you would describe as evil?

Can buildings be evil? I don't think so, no. Buildings are objects. A stone can't be evil either.


What ancient buildings do you most admire?

I love ancient stuff, but I have no idea what to answer here.


If you had the power to tear down one building what would it be?

Only one? Hm... at the moment this ugly shopping centre I told you about.


Do you have any ideas yourself about what makes a good building?

I think I have to be boring and say that Vitruv is still right:
firmitas – utilitas – venustas
it has to be safe and the statics have to be correct; it has to be functional; it has to be 'pretty'/ have a good design
What exactly that is depends on what and where you build.


Do buildings have 'atmosphere'? Can they hold memories?

Of course buildings can or do have atmosphere. You notice that especially when the atmosphere is 'bad' and you just want to leave again.


What other architectural constructs other than buildings have made an impression on you? For instance, The Angel of the North or the Dublin Spire (the 'Spike')?

I don't know the two you mentioned.
... had a look at the pictures, the angel looks horrible. But it isn't architecture, right? It's a sculpture.
The second... well... obviously once again a city that wants to show that it has the longest. Probably impressive but senseless and waist of money... or has it any sense?

What I find impressive is Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia for instance, also St Peter in Rome.

Oooh yes, another building I just don't like: the Loisium
http://www.loisium-vinothek.at/images/loisium%20imagebilder/loisium.jpg
I have to wince whenever it's mentioned. We were there at school and the teacher loved it and was shocked when I told him it's the most stupid stuff I've ever seen. They have a 'wine adventure world' in there, with all kind of pseudo-spiritual stuff about wine and a well with light show and then Dyonisos appears out of the water and whatnot. Horrible.

The Loisium looks like a giant version of the block of wood I learned to use a jigsaw on!

It's metal and shall reflect the sky and so get part of it's surroundings... which it doesn't do

that's some pics of inside:
http://archinect.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_loisium%2010.jpg
http://www.subjektiv.eu/photoblog/images/20060914185640_loisium_water.jpg
(the oh so spiritual cellar)
http://finanzblog.kaywa.com/files/images/2006/7/mob297_1152628627.jpg
(the stupid light show)

at the beginning of the tour they tell you that a lift will bring you hundreds of metres underground now , while in fact it's only one storey

The arched room with the water looks nice, but fake in some way, like it's trying too hard. The first photo of the inside looks just awful, exactly the way you'd hope it wouldn't look inside!

Oh yes, you're absolutely right about all of that. It's absolutely trying too hard, and when you then listen to what they *tell* about it it makes you want to scream and run away.

I'll visit it if I'm ever near it, but only out of some sort of morbid curiosity. You say you don't really have a favourite building, but are there any that you think combine good engineering and design with a pleasing style in an exceptional way?

that's such a difficult question... I like stuff by Frank Lloyd Wright, for instance, Fallingwater is great, I think.
http://z.about.com/d/jewelry/1/0/Y/3/fallingwater.jpg
But I also like Otto Wagner. Which is of course something totally different.
http://kunst6.sosmitmensch.at/static/kunst6/images/postsparkasse.jpg
http://aeiou.iicm.tugraz.at/aeiou.photo.index/w/wien/images/wien__kassensaal_der_postsparkasse_vo.jpg
And I also love this one bath by Peter Zumthor.
http://www.uo-online.at/dateien/790_vals.jpg
http://i.goruma.de/therme_vals_1.jpg

as you see, I don't even have a favourite style

... what about you? Did you start a thread here, too? I read through all of them but can't remember who said what.

I don't think I started a thread, but jumped in on a few!

I also think that Falling Water is a really beautiful building, there was an office block (or similar!) that Frank LLoyd Wright designed as well which was amazing, but I think it might have been demolished now! What I like about Falling Water is the way it is total harmony with it's surroundings. If this was more of a priority when building then the world would probably be a nicer place!

I haven't really thought about favourite buildings, but I will do so. The one that immediatley springs to mind is the building custom built to house the Burrell Collection. The collection contains items like stained glass windows and stone window surrounds and they were encorporated into the building. There are even rooms from Burrell's house. It wasn't startling, but it felt "whole" if you know what I mean.

Other structures I really like tend to not really be buildings, but more feats of engineering. Paddington Station by the great Isambard Kingdom Brunel is one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddington_station

I really like his bridges as well. He was truly a genius!

I really must take the time to answer the rest.

yes, you're right about Falling Water.

Ah, I don't know about that.

I saw a train station like that in February when I was on holidays in Germany. Yes, it's impressing.