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Reader Response
Added: Wednesday, 18 June 2008 08:17 BST
Anonymous, new york, United States
good call oxford,
thank god someone is thinking clearly.
this project is architectural hubris at its worst,
a formal solution that has the gravitas of a gesticulation and more relevance to the graphic design field than to the practice of architecture. what is remarkable about this project is more what has not been considered,
award a better architect than this one the chance to build in the wonderful location, please.
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Added: Wednesday, 18 June 2008 08:15 BST
Anonymous, new york, United States
good call oxford,
thank god someone is thinking clearly.
this project is architectural hubris at its worst,
a formal solution that has the gravitas of a gesticulation and more relevance to the graphic design field than to the practice of architecture. what is remarkable about this project is more what has not been considered,
award a better architect than this one the chance to build in the wonderful location, please.
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Added: Tuesday, 17 June 2008 05:10 BST
Anonymous, Sydney, Australia
Personally I think its complimenting the buildings around it. I can hardly call that brutalist and quiet ugly concrete edifice next door a masterpiece so what's wrong with placing a beautiful building in this setting to enhance this area? As long as it is executed to high standard which i'm sure it will be I have no issue.
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Added: Tuesday, 17 June 2008 02:29 BST
Anonymous, Newstead, Australia
My view is based of course on the limited pictures shown. On the positive, I love the form and the anticipated spaces I can see inside. I think there will be wonderful spaces created. However, I have to agree, contextually it doesn't work. It looks to be a very sculptural building, but it seems to be just "plonked" into place without any regard for the surrounds. Many contemporary styles can work with older styles. In this case, I can't see that marriage. But this is based on what I perceive from the pictures provided. It could work from other viewing points. Unfortunately not from those provided.
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Added: Tuesday, 17 June 2008 02:28 BST
Anonymous, Newstead, Australia
My view is based of course on the limited pictures shown. On the positive, I love the form and the anticipated spaces I can see inside. I think there will be wonderful spaces created. However, I have to agree, contextually it doesn't work. It looks to be a very sculptural building, but it seems to be just "plonked" into place without any regard for the surrounds. Many contemporary styles can work with older styles. In this case, I can't see that marriage. But this is based on what I perceive from the pictures provided. It could work from other viewing points. Unfortunately not from those provided.
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Added: Monday, 16 June 2008 18:38 BST
Anonymous, Cardiff, United Kingdom
I think in the context of this being an overt statement of an intervention by Zaha Hadid, it is extremely contextual. Mind you, I always find she's successful in that regard.
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Added: Monday, 16 June 2008 17:21 BST
Anonymous, Cardiff, United Kingdom
Why is 'an approporiate contextual response' so frequently seen as a predictable adoption of the proportions and materials of a bygone age?
Within these constraints Zaha would need to find a site within a futuristic space colony to justify her beautiful form-making.
Lets get into the 21st century and catch up with the sculptural progress within the (non-planner constrained) automotive / aero space and product design world.
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Added: Monday, 16 June 2008 15:08 BST
Anonymous, Wakefield, United Kingdom
nice concept...but it does look awkward with the existing buildings. Its the location which is'nt right. The building itself does look great, but its just not inkeeping with the surrounding buildings and just does'nt sit right for me.....
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Added: Monday, 16 June 2008 15:07 BST
Anonymous, London, United Kingdom
Not sure I agree. It may be a beautiful form in its own right (very zeitgeisty), but does it have anything to do with the context ? I fear we will look back at such interventions in the future and truly see them as the carbuncles so many of them are.
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