eclectic imaging
Embedded Systems
Posted by MadScientist (Düsseldorf, Germany) on 2 November 2009 in Architecture and Portfolio.
There is a recent trend in city development to 'embed' old buildings or remnants of them into new buildings that quote their architectural style or - like in this example - even take it over.
The company residing here is an insurance company. The common alternative for such a business building would have been to completely tear down the old building and construct one of these regular glass palaces. But the builders haven chosen this way. Is this reactionary, adequate, uninspired, or courageous? What do you think?
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Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
I think courageous!! Brilliant shot ms. I think its really unusual but not sure I would like it to happen too often!
2 Nov 2009 6:32am
@Linerberry: Time will tell, but I like these better than the common glass palaces.
Michael from Shell village, United Kingdom
Adequate.... but probably influenced by financial reasons.
2 Nov 2009 7:48am
@Michael: Yes, as always...
Alivia from Saint-Etienne, France
la rue, la ville, les buildings et la lumière du jour dans les ombres mouvantes sous le ciel gris, belle image de vie.
2 Nov 2009 9:07am
@Alivia: Merci beaucoup, Alivia!
@rem_la: Très gentil, merci, rem_la!
k@ from Paris, France
Love the clarity of this street shot over those impressive architectures*
2 Nov 2009 1:23pm
@k@: Thanks very much, k@!
@MARIANA: Cheers, Mariana!
@Ken: You're welcome! :-)
B.Held from Santa Fe, United States
a fantastic composition. the attention to detail is exquisite.
2 Nov 2009 3:03pm
@B.Held: Glad you like it!
dj.tigersprout from New York City, United States
yes -- it is happening here in the USA too!! lots of old buildings with real character are being used to 'flavor' more modern, and quite bland designs... i quite liike the results... kinda 'punchy'... (!)
:)
2 Nov 2009 3:46pm
@dj.tigersprout: Pure historicism - it could have been worse, definitely! :)
António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal
This is an attempt to satisfy both the developers, allowing them to build, and the conservationists, who want to keep memories.
In this particular case I don't like the solution. The styles don't match. It would have been preferable to maintain the facade and rebuild the interior to modern standards. That would maintain the height of the building but would not be interesting, investment wise.
2 Nov 2009 5:35pm
@António Pires: I think you are right, the different styles (Gothic revival vs. some kind of 'Romanesque') don't really match, neither do the colours. Considering the alternative (total destruction of the old building), this compromise isn't the worst that could have happened. Seen from a farther distance, its impact is quite acceptable, I think.
Steven from Chicagoland, United States
It doesn't seem like they saved enough. And the new portion should have been set back a little from the original, IMHO, instead of flush with each other. There could have been some nice terraces rather than those railings that but up against the windows. But you can blame them for trying. At least now they'll now what to do next time. ;-)
They want to do the same thing with some great buildings along Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
2 Nov 2009 7:11pm
@Steven: Time will tell! If the alternative would have been just another of these glass plated buildings, I definitely prefer this one. Seen from a distance the sight is quite okay.
Ted from South Wales, United Kingdom
You have such an eye for architecture MS!
Is renovation better than destruction?
Perhaps this build might have been more ambitious in it's design?
2 Nov 2009 8:54pm
@Ted: Thanks, Ted! Yes, it's a compromise, I think they just weren't courageous enough for Gothic forms. Maybe next time. :)
Philip from Cowbridge, United Kingdom
I think your photo makes the best of a bad job. The entrance is quite grand and worth a look but the rest of the building is so typical of the buildings in the Moorfield area of the City of London where I used to work. Saying that, if a building and its surroundings are looked after with care then there is a place for them - even parts of the Barbican in London has its merits.
2 Nov 2009 10:52pm
@Philip: You must know, the city of Cologne lost 90 percent of its buildings in the war; Cologne's cityscape is quite chaotic, mixed with some remnants of the past (that often are reconstructions). Most of the architecture is coming from the 1960s and later, so I welcome every form that is different from the common rectangle. :-)
PD from Overland Park, Kansas, United States
I think it is better than not using the old architecture.
2 Nov 2009 11:28pm
@PD: Definitely. Maybe next time they have the courage to use some Gothic forms too!
akarui from Kagoshima, Japan
The light is very beautiful. I like the differents colors on the building from a reddish color to a yellow cream and then blue with the reflections.
2 Nov 2009 11:30pm
@akarui: Thanks, Olivier. Yes, the light was good that day, with some blue/white/grey it made the sky quite vivid.
Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan
In this very case...the choice is uninspired! The original is by far more stylish and pleasant than the grey monotone above it! I like your street capture, the image is very good!
3 Nov 2009 8:04am
@Japanalia: Thanks, Gabriela! I'm very curious if this trend will evolve into something more courageous. Time will tell.
Cricket-TammyWarren from somewhere, United States
I see this happening in our city as well. I think things are much better off if they all follow the same architecture, but in most cases it doesn't appear feasible.
Great image.
3 Nov 2009 4:15pm
@Cricket-TammyWarren: Cologne's cityscape is very chaotic, lots of 60s and 70s architecture with too many monotone facades and too big buildings. The glass palaces of the 90s didn't look better; I'm curious what will happen in the next ten years.
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
I'd say none of the above. I'd say timid and pandering.
7 Nov 2009 8:52pm
@Twelvebit: Evokes the question which architecture is more powerful: the historistic one or the grey neo-historistic.
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