Some artists are disappearing from society to let their work speak for itself

Re:Some artists are disappearing from society to let their w... by lqet on Thursday April 23, 2020 @05:38AM (#22954247)

You might be interested in the Dom-Römer-Project in Frankfurt [0], where they re-build a major part of the old town center, using reconstructions or houses build in a "traditional" style. There was an extremely ugly and unfair discussion between the advocates of the project and modernist architects, which basically ended in the modernists accusing the former of facism and populism - which is completely absurd.

This is the building they demolished for the project:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Te...

It is still lauded by some as a masterpiece, which either means that I have zero architectural understanding, or that they are using different metrics to measure architectural quality.

The Dom-Römer-Project was and is a huge success. For me, the lesson is that if you want to avoid architectural controversies outside the world of renowned architects (meaning if you want to general population to like a building), build traditional. It's as simple as that.

Another thing I really like about the Dom-Römer-Project was the enthusiasm of the people who build it. It makes a huge difference if you are a carpenter and you are just inserting pre-made doors into a modern building, or if you have to actually build a classic timber frame [1], which you might only heard of during your apprenticeship.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dom-R%C3%B6mer_Project

[1] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Ha...

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Re:Some artists are disappearing from society to let their w... by rwnspace on Thursday April 23, 2020 @07:15AM (#22954731)

Architecture is a sub-culture just like anything else. There's plenty of software we love that is buried under a hideous UI, because we understand how the construction and operation of our beloved is unique in concept, function or influence.

Lots of aesthetics is to do with prediction and surprise, and if you don't have the 'perceptual training' you won't be able to make much sense of the art or architecture which defies your expectations.

IANAA but I imagine the "Technisches Rathaus" building is supposed to be a bit like what's supposed to go on inside a technical academy - scientific reductionism or abstraction. The design exposes the 'idea' of the components of the building (the steel poles, obvious floor layout, bringing up the 'foundations' to ground level) and abstracts away the typically visceral particulars (receding the windows, using only design-relevant adornment).

I think there are plenty of interesting buildings that look absolutely disgusting in context, but which I'd probably enjoy and be able to 'see' properly if they were grouped together in their own little town somewhere, because I'm not in a mode where I expect to see traditional architecture.

At the same time, if I never see those buildings, how am I to know what novel aesthetics I'm missing out on?

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Re:Some artists are disappearing from society to let their w... by tonyedgecombe on Thursday April 23, 2020 @08:30AM (#22955214)

That first building does look ugly to me but I'm not sure what the point of building a pastiche of the past is either. Presumable they used modern standards and materials internally.

It reminds me of the estate my parents live on with mock Tudor windows and beams. It's just as hideous as your first image.

It is possible to build attractive and liveable yet modern buildings.

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Re:Some artists are disappearing from society to let their w... by growlist on Thursday April 23, 2020 @08:43AM (#22955302)

As opposed to a pastiche of the present...

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