Why ugly buildings?

Apr 30 02:13 UTC 1997

Many people work in glass shoe boxes and live in ugly blue-gray prefab
houses without form or grace.  Why is this true?  It can be argued that
ugliness is more efficient that it takes less resources/time.  Perhaps
this was true up through the early 80s, but there is no excuse now with
cheap CAD programs that allow us to design beautiful organic forms easily
and quickly. 

It isn't for lack of examples either, architects have access to everything
form Chis Alexander's "A Pattern Language," to the designs, of Kivas,
Yurts, Buddhist temples, underground houses, Dr. Seuss stories and other
examples of interesting places to dwell.

This is the item to ponder architectural ugliness, discuss buildings you
have grown to love, and talk about your own designs for buildings that you
would like to live in/work in.

Let your imagination run wild, let's see those interesting living spaces!

response 2 of 7:

Apr 30 07:03 UTC 1997

So there's yet another echo in grex....echo echo echo echo...
Perhaps the archetects have been reading all those wonderful sources
and insisted on rebeling against them.  Perhaps they were tired of
beauty, insisted that "form should follow function: and life sucks."
and because work sucks the building should reflect the state of work 
in this day and age.  Or maybee they just bought Microsoft Building
Ver. 4.66777555222902849978450892340-3490597808909853352a.
Perhaps they are just stupiud. Good idea, raven.
<he blushes modestly>  um, raven, that's a fake blush if I ever saw
one, oh, hey that's an improvement.
I think therefore that all buildings should be happy shiny spheres that
float on pink oceans with fluffy white clouds and dinosaurs.
(Southfield, eat your heart out)
I also propose that all buildings that do not conform to the standard
should be blown up immediately. (font wanders over and strangles the 
building facist) <grin>

response 4 of 7:

Jun 27 20:50 UTC 1997

You brought about a good point ther font!  The building do reflect the times.
Back in the renaisance ppl where party animal artsy happy ppl  buidlings
reflected that.   In Middevil times of Europe (Wales, England Scotlaand)even
today as a matter of fact, People are less material and itis always dreary
and dark.. In the midevil times of lore during war Dark stones alll but
reflected the moods of the whether and the people. 

Cheap and easier methods have come about to build houses.  THey are made of
plastic.  People lead robotic klives.  Changed by their society more than
ever. REpressed into believing certain morals.. Hey i cant even walk down the
steet without being stared at (lip rings, coloredhair, massive boots, and
trench coat)   Therefore we live in these shitty homes.,..  Its time to live
in space!!!!!  :)



oh yea snarf!!!

response 6 of 7:

Jul 2 16:51 UTC 1997

Good point.  I guess I feel it's time though to move from bulding restoration
(which is a good thing) to designing new interesting buildings with complex
organic forms using the new cad software that is availible.