Comments on: “Some of our more arrogant and careless buildings are at war with time and change, and they always lose.”

By: LB

LB — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:26:52 +0000

In reply to Doug C. Yes. Haven't read the book but based on the video I did immediately think of Vancouver's Museum of Anthropology, one of my favourite buildings despite the facdt that it leaks and is otherwise impractical. And then a host of others. I can't imagine he'd like McMansions, though.

By: Doug C

Doug C — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:35:02 +0000

I read the book and found some interesting ideas but think the oak beam story is certainly apocryphal. A fantasy not based in reality. The capital investment required for this en masse is prohibitive, the cost of the dry storage, the expense of warehousing materials and their damage while stored. America has run rings around the old world’s masonry buildings with platform framing making housing considerably less cost prohibitive.
He also seems to have a resentment against architects producing uniquely artistic buildings, something I do not share. Perhaps the type of architecture best exemplified by Brand’s ideas is akin to Robert A.M. Stern’s upscale Mcmansions. Barbie dream houses for people unable to live in the present.

By: LB

LB — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:40:18 +0000

In reply to Elizabeth.

It’s great, isn’t it?

The second video above in the Learning from Buildings series reminds me of Koolhaas’ Houselife, the quite hilarious documentary film in which a housekeeper demonstrates the difficulty of cleaning one of Koolhaas’ houses.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:54:15 +0000

Thrilled to see Stewart Brand and his book mentioned… and LOVE the oak beam story. That is indeed the way to run a culture!