Why does no one seem upset that the venerable South Street Seaport, in New York City, is about to be zapped and tricked out as a squat Miesian glass box, courtesy of SHoP, one of the world’s worst architectural firms? And a goofy tower will be added to boot. The Seaport should be preserved as an historic early example of the festival mall concept, developed by James Rouse in 1982. The building is not stellar architecture, perhaps, but it has a traditional feel with which it girds up the staying power of New York’s bedraggled waterfront. While it does not look as if the historic Schermerhorn mercantile row is at risk, just wait. The Seaport was damaged in Hurricane Sandy, and some shops had to close, but this was hardly a reason to poke New York in the eye with yet another inexcusable eyesore. Where is the outrage!?
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David, this is truly a tragedy. One step forward and two steps back. Thanks for the post. Dave
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What do you expect? It’s New York, which long ago lost the sense of what a city is. It has long been getting the architecture it deserves.
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Surely you’ve learned by now that America is capable of great urbanism, but consistently throws such achievements away in the blink of an eye. We simply cannot leave things alone.
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David – hear, hear! Among other things this looks terribly out of context, perishably trendy, and energy-wasteful, with its poorly insulated curtain-wall design. A good symbol of what is wrong with our green-washing profession. Not a good symbol of much else, I fear. (BTW Steve — reversible, yes — but how sustainable is that?? “The greenest building is the one you already have!”)
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David, for what it’s worth…I AM OUTRAGED! The Rouse block is a successful example of a respectful modern addition to a historic setting and SHoP’s proposal is the de rigeur a la mode solution nowadays. One good thing about it: it looks eminently “reversible.”
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I left out mention of a goofy tower to be added to the ensemble, which may be less reversible. I got the tower in late but it’s there now, with a new, updated illustration.
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