Blowhard, Esq. writes:
The architectural decadence of civic buildings continues. Here are a couple shots of the new library currently being built in Birmingham, England.
Not only does the style clash with the surrounding context, but so does the scale. It looks like someone plopped down a stack of boxes in the middle of the city and wrapped them in some sort of Spirograph scrim.
The interior is just as bad.
The circular layout looks like an attempt to ape the Guggenheim, although I don’t know if it’s one continuous ramp. All those escalators make it look like a cheap mall. Is the one below supposed to look wobbly or is that due to the odd perspective? What about the one up top leading to the creepy, leering author portraits? Not to mention the random, shotgun-patterned recessed flourescent lighting in the ceiling.
With buildings like this, thank God for Amazon Prime and a Kindle, right?
- Here’s the city’s official website for the building. Opening day is set for Sept 3, 2013. It’s estimated to cost £190 million.
- Here’s the website of the architect, Francine Houben. Her firm, Mechanoo, is located in Delft, Netherlands. Just for fun, here’s a picture of Delft’s city square.
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 
Seems like there’s a lot of wasted space there. Not a very efficient layout for book storage and access. That “author heaven” thing is embarrassing. Your cultural overlords have their eyes on you.
LikeLike
Egad. Looks like a department store from the outside.
LikeLike
Yeah, a department store tarted up with crappy holiday decorations.
LikeLike
This may not be the best moment in history to spend money on a library.
LikeLike
I like your photo of Delft. When we lived in Edinburgh we noticed that architects who were happy to design “modern” buildings for other people were careful to live in the New Town themselves, i.e. the Georgian bit built in the 18th and early 19th century.
LikeLike
Yup, that’s exactly why I included the picture. It’s a point Paleo Retiree has made, too.
LikeLike
Pingback: Eyesore of the Month: The Ordos Museum | Uncouth Reflections