Ranting, revisited

[hellison]

Re yesterday's rant on the new extension to the Grand Opera House, since I couldn't find any pictures online anywhere, I used the powar of CAMERA PHONE to get my own. So now you can make your own minds up!

This is how it looks in the cold light of day. Clicking get a larger version (tho, not much i think ;p) and you can see how the delightful green concrete (WHY??) already looks stained.


And at night (well about 5ish yesterday. But it was already DARK! woe).


I will admit it doesn't look as hideous by night, but it still DOESN'T FIT, and that's my main problem with it. Somewhere else (an industrial estate maybe ;p), it might not look so bad, so out of place, but here? It looks like someone's Blue Peter project stuck on the side.
Surely they could have tried to build something that... blended better? Not a replica or just copying the style, but SOMETHING that doesn't clash so much?
And no-one will blow it up now either :/

Comments

[being-here.livejournal.com]

It looks quite impressive by night... but I can see what you mean.

Maybe Architects for Peace will blow it up in their fight to rid the world of eyesores?

[hellison.livejournal.com]

It is better by night... but still pretty much a concrete box, with a big concrete pillar dividing from the main building (which, tho you can't see it really here, also lights up prettily at night). And it still doesn't fit - to my eyes anyway. Would it have really hurt anyone to even put a few curves in?

[being-here.livejournal.com]

Ah but see... you're thinking of this like a proper person... not a designer

;-)

[lazy-hoor.livejournal.com]

It's a bit, um seventies isn't it?

[kimkali.livejournal.com]

Wow.
That really is bad. I mean BAD. Urgh.
It looks like something that needs lancing.
Yes, it is all shiney at night, but it looks like a brightly lit shameless office building.There is a way of making arts and culture more appealing, more accessible, more attrative particularly to pedestrian traffic, but Dude, c'mon! at least try and blend a little.

[hellison.livejournal.com]

Heh the first thing I thought when I looked at the night time photo this morning was that it looked like a big office christmas party ;p

Nothing much like a theatre tho - especially given what it's attached to! How hard would it have been to make it look a LITTLE bit like it was meant to be the same building?

[hellison.livejournal.com]

It is a bit, now you mention it. But it has modern COLOURED concrete! GREEN. Which, a whole WEEK after it was opened, already looks stained and dirty. God knows how it will look in a couple of years (never mind the hundred or so the original has been there for).

[kimkali.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, yes... "same building" eh? Father was the milkman style maybe.

You naughty naughty woman, woman woman,
Im naughty man, naugty happy man
Remember that? The office goblin christmas song? Heheh.

[hellison.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking more 'adopted from a 3rd world country because it's SO trendy these days' ;p

I've never heard that song! I have a feeling I'm missing out

[kanaalzahir.livejournal.com]

I sort of like it! *ducks and runs*

[hieronymousmosh.livejournal.com]

It's as if they had no idea what building they were putting the addition on. It looks better at night, what with the lights distracting you from the building itself.

[hellison.livejournal.com]

Well, each to their own ;p

I don't hate the building itself (well, ok, I do mostly), more the fact that it's meant to be the SAME BUILDING as THIS (http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/up_images/2185ahousephoto.jpg) and they made no attempt AT ALL to even vaguely match or blend the two, just stuck this concrete thing on the side!

It does look prettier lit up at night, but it still doesn't FIT!

[hellison.livejournal.com]

yeah, i think the conversation in the Architects common room went something like

'hey guys, we need a theatre!'
'ooh ooh, I did one of those for my dissertaion, here, i have the drawings!
*rest of architects* 'oooh coloured concrete! boxiness! BIG WINDOWS! we love it, lets do THAT'
*lone voice at back 'hey, isn't this, like, an extra to an existing building? Shouldn't we look at THAT'
*rest of architects "Coloured. Concrete. Big. WINDOWS OMG it is just SO. AMAZING!!!!111!!1!!"