Tyrone Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, 1963. Ralph Rapson.
What is it about this that I don't like? (Though it looks like a very nice thing?) That it is a one liner? That it is an object? "A perfume bottle?" But what isn't a perfume bottle? Architecture is more than a perfume bottle - is it a crime for buildings to look like objects? But why do I dislike that idea?
(Edit: could it be that, 'as a composition it is not powerful, as an object it is not minimalist?' If we were to judge something based on pure looks, like this, from a picture, or like spectators from the street, like passers-by, like the inhabitants of the city -- if we were to judge architecture based on pure looking (i.e. without studying the plans, or understanding how the inside works, or what it wants to do with regards to space, to relationship) then is it not the same as looking at an artwork? A painting, or a sculpture. The problem that moves to the #1 spot here, then, is that not every architect is an artist -- perhaps someone like Le Corbusier could make a building work as a sculpture, but it cannot be said for every architect. Yet, many buildings are designed today like this, for viewing from the street, for public view, like displaying artwork by an amateur artist - not bad, but not especially good.)
What is it about this that I don't like? (Though it looks like a very nice thing?) That it is a one liner? That it is an object? "A perfume bottle?" But what isn't a perfume bottle? Architecture is more than a perfume bottle - is it a crime for buildings to look like objects? But why do I dislike that idea?
(Edit: could it be that, 'as a composition it is not powerful, as an object it is not minimalist?' If we were to judge something based on pure looks, like this, from a picture, or like spectators from the street, like passers-by, like the inhabitants of the city -- if we were to judge architecture based on pure looking (i.e. without studying the plans, or understanding how the inside works, or what it wants to do with regards to space, to relationship) then is it not the same as looking at an artwork? A painting, or a sculpture. The problem that moves to the #1 spot here, then, is that not every architect is an artist -- perhaps someone like Le Corbusier could make a building work as a sculpture, but it cannot be said for every architect. Yet, many buildings are designed today like this, for viewing from the street, for public view, like displaying artwork by an amateur artist - not bad, but not especially good.)
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