Ghost of Vetruvius
Someone’s mad as hell about the crappy architecture on Fourth Avenue and they’re not going to take it! Remember the craptactular rental building that went up at 126 4th Avenue a couple of years ago? Someone with the moniker “The Ghost of Vitruvius” posted the above screed on the side of the building recently, and…
Someone’s mad as hell about the crappy architecture on Fourth Avenue and they’re not going to take it! Remember the craptactular rental building that went up at 126 4th Avenue a couple of years ago? Someone with the moniker “The Ghost of Vitruvius” posted the above screed on the side of the building recently, and a tipster sent it in over the weekend. The text says “ARCHITECT: Is this really the best you can do? This building is UGLY, and therefore IRRESPONSIBLE” and a logo in the corner reads “NYC Building Aesthetics.” Has anyone spotted more of these around town? GMAP
I think the sign and the views expressed are great. Right on the mark. This building, and too many others, constitute visual pollution. Especially troubling since there is such beauty to be achieved as evidenced by the past all around us in fair Brooklyn.
Yeah like the ghost of Vitruvius would actually be hanging out on Forth Avenue… And I doubt he would be using that font.
Here is a bit from the AIA’s 2007 Code of Conduct – see http://bit.ly/bmjOwR :
“E.S. 1.2 Standards of Excellence:
Members should continually
seek to raise the standards of
aesthetic excellence, architectural
education, research,
training, and practice.
“E.S. 1.3 Natural and Cultural Heritage:
Members should respect and
help conserve their natural and
cultural heritage while striving to
improve the environment and the
quality of life within it.”
I would love to see the AIA stand up to their own words.
Is putting up signs like this what ninja window smashers in Williamsburg do when they “grow up”?
As an owner on 4th, this building was good for business. On the other hand, tiny windows: wasted opportunity to take in the sky and natural light. Street level wall of stone: wasted opportunity to add valuable street life.
These buildings fail to create lasting value. To me, that’s a shame.
Yeah – I’m sure if Gehry built some huge glass tower here this person would be happy. /sarcasm
We all should take up the hobby of putting ‘You’re Ugly’ stickers on anything we think is ugly.
i think it’s pretty funny, though agree that it could use a little levity/satire to make the same point.
That said, i agree with architect66 that this commentary is barking up the wrong tree – if you’re going to shame someone, call out the developer. In this kind of economically driven development, i’d be surprised if the architect had very much control over the results.
Where was this dude when they where building the garages, tire shops, taxi stations, Staples, KFC, etc, etc.
I smell resentment.