Comments on: The Value of Architecture in Civic Greatness (part 2) http://www.theweightofdust.org/design/the-value-of-architecture-in-civic-greatness-part-2/ The Weight of Dust Exceeds the Weight of Settled Objects Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:09:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Noah E Miller http://www.theweightofdust.org/design/the-value-of-architecture-in-civic-greatness-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Noah E Miller Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:26:46 +0000 http://www.theweightofdust.org/?p=412#comment-50 I think the Larkin Building, while striking, looked rather imposing from the outside. Its not fearful, but it IS dramatically out of scale, which is sort of what I'm talking about. The Ford Foundation building has always been a favorite of mine though. I find myself going out of my way to walk by it frequently. The fact that you can see all the way through the foyer and that it has an indoor jungle is welcoming enough. Its an impressively warm building despite its mass and I strength. I think the Larkin Building, while striking, looked rather imposing from the outside. Its not fearful, but it IS dramatically out of scale, which is sort of what I’m talking about. The Ford Foundation building has always been a favorite of mine though. I find myself going out of my way to walk by it frequently. The fact that you can see all the way through the foyer and that it has an indoor jungle is welcoming enough. Its an impressively warm building despite its mass and I strength.

]]> By: Nate http://www.theweightofdust.org/design/the-value-of-architecture-in-civic-greatness-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Nate Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:26:48 +0000 http://www.theweightofdust.org/?p=412#comment-47 Two building come immediately to mind. Both of which, despite being commercial buildings, strike me as having at least some of the qualities you require in a civic structure. Both buildings speak of austerity without inspiring fear: FLW's Larkin Building and the Ford Foundation building by Roche-Dinkeloo. Both have interiors that while being large open spaces, arent designed to make one feel small, but rather integrated into a whole. Grand yet egalitarian. Two building come immediately to mind. Both of which, despite being commercial buildings, strike me as having at least some of the qualities you require in a civic structure. Both buildings speak of austerity without inspiring fear: FLW’s Larkin Building and the Ford Foundation building by Roche-Dinkeloo. Both have interiors that while being large open spaces, arent designed to make one feel small, but rather integrated into a whole. Grand yet egalitarian.

]]> By: Noah E Miller http://www.theweightofdust.org/design/the-value-of-architecture-in-civic-greatness-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Noah E Miller Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:21:34 +0000 http://www.theweightofdust.org/?p=412#comment-28 I think traditionally people have built things that way. But that's a very telling view of the law (from someone who knows more law than I do): you see the courthouse as a place where freedom is taken away and I see it (somewhat naively perhaps) as a place where freedom is insured. I do think the expression of stability and strength of the judicial apparatus is key, but I take issue with the scale and hierarchy of the individuals. In the course of my duty every court officer and lawyer went to great pains to explain to us (the jurors) that we had the power, that we were the only people who could make decisions, etc. Part of the reason why they had to drive this home is because in the setting of the court we seemed to be completely powerless, insignificant in scale, set aside, passive, and unable to make the simplest inquiry. We were at the service of the state, not representatives of a state created of, for, and by the people. Sawdust and glue? Isn't that just MDF? That's what's gradually replacing everything in the Brooklyn courthouse. Like reverse termites. I think new courthouses are built out of that plastic spray foam stuff. I think traditionally people have built things that way. But that’s a very telling view of the law (from someone who knows more law than I do): you see the courthouse as a place where freedom is taken away and I see it (somewhat naively perhaps) as a place where freedom is insured.

I do think the expression of stability and strength of the judicial apparatus is key, but I take issue with the scale and hierarchy of the individuals. In the course of my duty every court officer and lawyer went to great pains to explain to us (the jurors) that we had the power, that we were the only people who could make decisions, etc. Part of the reason why they had to drive this home is because in the setting of the court we seemed to be completely powerless, insignificant in scale, set aside, passive, and unable to make the simplest inquiry. We were at the service of the state, not representatives of a state created of, for, and by the people.

Sawdust and glue? Isn’t that just MDF? That’s what’s gradually replacing everything in the Brooklyn courthouse. Like reverse termites. I think new courthouses are built out of that plastic spray foam stuff.

]]> By: Scott http://www.theweightofdust.org/design/the-value-of-architecture-in-civic-greatness-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Scott Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:25:50 +0000 http://www.theweightofdust.org/?p=412#comment-26 I would think that the intimidating power of the architecture of a courthouse would make sense. The court is the where the power of the state is exercised. Freedom is taken and individual choices are squashed based on the decisions of a jury of one's peers. The majestic and stately visage of the classical themes create an idea that the individual is insignificant in the face of the greater good. Of course, the town of Newburgh courthouse appears to me made of sawdust and glue, so the effect is less effective. I would think that the intimidating power of the architecture of a courthouse would make sense. The court is the where the power of the state is exercised. Freedom is taken and individual choices are squashed based on the decisions of a jury of one’s peers. The majestic and stately visage of the classical themes create an idea that the individual is insignificant in the face of the greater good. Of course, the town of Newburgh courthouse appears to me made of sawdust and glue, so the effect is less effective.

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