tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post2462038752786932278..comments2024-03-25T18:50:15.135-04:00Comments on DCmud - The Urban Real Estate Digest of Washington DC: Two Megabuildings Downtown in Pipeline for GouldKenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08295461340042242438noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-69873725522367981252012-10-01T09:57:54.168-04:002012-10-01T09:57:54.168-04:00Skidrow,
What comparison would you like? How abou...Skidrow,<br />What comparison would you like? How about the old 9:30 building on F street? That was an office building. Try almost any office building pre-WWII that gives the passerby more to contemplate than a reveal in a grid. <br /><br />The vatican wasn't the point, rather the fact that somehow getting a reveal just right would suddenly make these brain dead buildings somehow beautiful. Wishful thinking.<br /><br /><br /><br />The point is these glass grids provide nothing for the eye to enjoy. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-66711880011639689682012-09-28T15:24:25.854-04:002012-09-28T15:24:25.854-04:00That a speculative office building in downtown DC ...That a speculative office building in downtown DC would be compared with the Vatican shows how stunningly out of touch with reality the last commenter is.<br /><br />The Vatican is perhaps the ultimate example of a building that sucked vast amounts of money from elsewhere and used it for(ostensibly) pious works of integrated art and architecture-as-art. The results are stunning, particularly when one considers that most Renaissance and Baroque era artists and construction workers lived in miserable conditions. Nowadays the Vatican sucks vast money to maintain these treasures. <br /><br />Perfectly fine, but that money comes from buildings that support the MAKING of money. Such buildings, in 2012, are not historicist fantasies of carved marble and filigree, because they aren't, for most people, conducive to productive money-making. Oh, and because they cost way way way way way too much to construct. <br /><br />Even nice curtain walls are too costly, much of the time. Since the architects and client for these projects have chosen curtain walls, I encourage them to do it right. It's not impossible, just requires dedication. Skidrowenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-21989496642452687662012-09-28T13:54:48.253-04:002012-09-28T13:54:48.253-04:00If you're tired of the glass box meme, take a ...If you're tired of the glass box meme, take a nap, cause people hate those buildings. But I will agree whole heartedly with the person who said "Glass buildings always look better in a contrasting situation", just like when Mies drew the first pure glass cube rising from the 19th century grey fabric of Berlin. Unfortunatley, K street and much of downtown dosen't suffer from a Paris like urban fabric.<br /><br />As for Skidrow's observation that "caps, reveals, etc.--which don't show up at typical elevation scales. That's what gives character and life to glass boxes."<br />That's awsome, casue nothing says character like a tight 1/4" reveal. Infact, have you seen the Vatican's reveals? Wow, forget all that beautiful art work, just sketch the caps!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-25830664611635870492012-09-28T12:25:03.252-04:002012-09-28T12:25:03.252-04:00Regarding the 600 Mass Ave project, I think the Ma...Regarding the 600 Mass Ave project, I think the Mass Ave side is actually pretty promising -- looks like it will offer a sense of depth and layering that is so often missing from glass boxes. Unfortunately, the other side, next to the historic rowhouses, looks like the usual bland, it's-not-really-old-but-we-will-make-it-so-boring-you-won't-notice school of thought. <br /><br />Not sure what to make of the City Center project. Looks like it's trying to be different, but I am not convinced. <br /><br />I absolutely agree with Skidrowe regarding the importance of details. Outstanding details can make a glass box an engaging work of art. Unfortunately, outstanding details are usually expensive details, and most developers are too cheap to pay for them. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-15326489379128754962012-09-28T11:21:52.678-04:002012-09-28T11:21:52.678-04:00The 600 Mass building has the advantage of being n...The 600 Mass building has the advantage of being nestled within non-glass buildings, something like 455 Mass down the avenue. Glass buildings always look better in a contrasting situation. This plus the zoning-required setbacks and the historic-induced unusual floor plan provide optimism for the success of 600 Mass as shown. I wish I could be as optimistic about 900 NY Ave, but from the drawings shown it looks much less promising, much more of the developer's box with a couple little design gymnastics to provide interest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-61294163412083142312012-09-28T11:14:18.602-04:002012-09-28T11:14:18.602-04:00I too am tiring of the glass box takeover of downt...I too am tiring of the glass box takeover of downtown DC. Even moreso than with other types of exterior design, for glass buildings the devil is in the details--details which don't show in renderings. <br /><br />CORE and Gould take note: These designs depend heavily on the quality and precise character of the curtain wall. Do your research thoroughly, don't cheap out, and remain vigilant through the shop drawing process. Above all, remember that it's not just a question of blowing up a 1/4" drawing to life size. You must include small elements--caps, reveals, etc.--which don't show up at typical elevation scales. That's what gives character and life to glass boxes.Skidrowenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-84003413952467615062012-09-28T10:27:20.752-04:002012-09-28T10:27:20.752-04:00Nice post.it will be very useful and informative t...Nice post.it will be very useful and informative to us.<br /><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Dave/Lindahl" rel="nofollow">dave lindahl</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04874450272958765778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-54607605927078603432012-09-28T09:44:16.702-04:002012-09-28T09:44:16.702-04:00I agree with Guest. Not only is it very difficult...I agree with Guest. Not only is it very difficult to get anything that isn't straight down the fairway passed by the myriad architectural review boards in this city, but architects are designing not only for the people on the street, but also those using the offices. And very often what the users want are large windows and lots of light. Glass curtain wall is a great way to provide that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-75677328800493234132012-09-28T08:06:24.618-04:002012-09-28T08:06:24.618-04:00More banal comments from the armchair architects.More banal comments from the armchair architects.Guestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-77351168706872535602012-09-27T16:13:27.906-04:002012-09-27T16:13:27.906-04:00More banal crap for DC's streets. The silver ...More banal crap for DC's streets. The silver lining is these buildings can be re-skinned once the glass looks as dated as the 1960's glass.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com