Blowhard, Esq. writes:
Here are the “Torres de Hercules” in Spain, designed by Rafael de La-Hoz Architects.
Pretty terrible, but nothing compared to the Bella Sky Hotel in Denmark, designed by a Danish firm called 3xn. This website calls it “a tasteful and warm Scandinavian home.”
I defy anyone to point to a single feature that’s “warm.” Or “tasteful.” It’s a German expressionist-by-way-of-Scandinavia nightmare.
What are the worst eyesores you’ve seen lately?
Blowhard, Esq.
Callowman
Sherbrooke
Eddie Pensier
Enzo Nakamura
Epaminondas
Fabrizio del Wrongo
Fenster
Brundle Guy
Glynn Marshes
Paleo Retiree
Atypical Neurotic
Question Lady
Sax von Stroheim
Sir Barken Hyena
The Mistaken
Uncouth Reflections 
I like the Spanish one. Reminds me of mid-century concert block walls, which I love. http://tinyurl.com/8eyg59g
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The first one reminds me of another Spanish riff–uncompleted and unlikely to ever be built. It is part of Enrique Norten’s winning entry in the architectural competition to re-do Rutgers main College Ave. campus. Here’s a link to the design below.
There’s only one tower, but it also looks like, for want of a better term, and with a tip o’ th’ hat to Blowhard Esq. and his pal Venturi, a decorated silo.
http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&rlz=1C1SAVC_enUS502US502&biw=1366&bih=600&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnso&tbnid=ZMa-BKSgw-G8gM:&imgrefurl=http://www.bustler.net/index.php/event/enrique_norten_retrospective_at_marco_museo_de_arte_contemporaneo_de_monter/&docid=CHVuCPv5n2YD4M&imgurl=http://www.bustler.net/images/uploads/enrique_norten_03.jpg&w=480&h=480&ei=N6BxUOLbHvPW0gHN84CICw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=222&vpy=132&dur=159&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=156&ty=125&sig=114318689108687834101&page=1&tbnh=131&tbnw=130&start=0&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:77
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Gah. Amusing, or at least kookily provocative, as “design” — I can see getting a kick out of such forms if they were wastebaskets, vases or pen-and-pencil holders. But they’re selfevidently disasters as urbanistic gestures. Look at the bases — how do they interact with the space there, and with the sidewalk? Answer: they carve out and leave a lot of dead space. How do they interact with their neighbors? Answer: not at all. They’re basically showoffy, freestanding structures. The world doesn’t need any more of those.
How a building looks is pretty important, but how it behaves — what kind of neighbor is it? how does it treat passersby? etc — is FAR more important, IMHO.
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Check out the Peter B. Lewis Building at Case Western in Cleveland. Looks like a spacecraft accident.
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