4 ms·

It's really interesting to me to see architecture used for its typical antithesis. It is typically used to bring a sense of bring out positive emotions, to insp

by labster 10y ago

It's really interesting to me to see architecture used for its typical antithesis. It is typically used to bring a sense of bring out positive emotions, to inspire, to bring facility to humanity, to sanctify. Here it is being used to desecrate, to decrease utility, to ward away. As a hacker, I'm used to the thought of "what is the worst possible way I can make this UI", but it's cool to see it applied in an entirely different field.

bbcbasic 10y ago
I don't have to think too hard to make a bad UI. It comes naturally.
- pluma 10y ago
  It's the difference between incompetence and intentionally making things look bad. If a child draws like a child, that's probably not worth mentioning. If a brilliant artist draws like a child, that's pretty damn impressive.
rdtsc 10y ago
> It is typically used to bring a sense of bring out positive emotions, to inspire, to bring facility to humanity, to sanctify. Here it is being used to desecrate, to decrease utility, to ward away. Not that uncommon. I have known 2 architects who used architecture against probably what they learned in school or dreamed of building. One was designing casinos. Apparently they did "dark patterns" before computer UI people did it. Think about open places, to inspire and generate positive emotions and so on, well their guidelines was to entrap, confuse, isolate and promote whatever kept people playing longer. She eventually quit and became a housewife. The other one, lost their job where they designed office buildings, and the only job they found in their town was building prisons. Talk about soul crushing. Well, they said they didn't care it was just a job. But, I know it would bring me down if I was building that.
- labster 10y ago
  Dark patterns aren't uncommon, sure. But I feel like in trying to design a nuclear waste site they are using antipatterns, purposely trying to avoid or subvert every common pattern in design. Or in terms of the computing metaphor a dark pattern would be a website that splits content across several pages. An antipattern would loading MBs of webfonts and polyfills to display a single word and a link saying "Click here for the next word." (At least as I'm trying to use the word "antipattern"). I do not really know much about architecture personally, so I appreciate the input. I do feel sorry for the people who do the soul crushing work like that, making the world just a little worse in order to survive. We all have a choice, even if we can't see it now.
- jacquesm 10y ago
  > Think about open places, to inspire and generate positive emotions and so on, well their guidelines was to entrap, confuse, isolate and promote whatever kept people playing longer. > She eventually quit and became a housewife. I think she ended up working for IKEA.
- willyt 10y ago
  You can usually tell whether an airport is state funded or private sector by how confusing it is. Privately funded airports are optimised to get you past the maximum number of shop fronts with other distractions minimised. The tend to be labyrinthine and inward looking. This is because landing fees make up a small percentage of their revenue.
- proactivesvcs 10y ago
  I started my computer services business because the place I worked at doing tech support had good people but bad business practises. It felt like I was given a great opportunity to learn new skills, which I did, but then put them to such diluted use that it did our customers a disservice. I suppose that's a sign that you don't just want a job, but something to work for as part of who you are.
morgante 10y ago
> It is typically used to bring a sense of bring out positive emotions I'm not quite sure about that. Lots of architecture is used to intimidate, to signal power and that you should be afraid.
- bbcbasic 10y ago
  Definitely the Nazi* architecture does that. I remember seeing thee very intimidating military towers in Berlin. It was like the tower wanted to start a war itself. (*Yes I said the magic word, it is now one of THOSE threads!)
  - morgante 10y ago
    Albert Speer had some truly amazing work. Though it was used for a terrible end, the technical innovations behind it were very impressive.
  - rjsw 10y ago
    I'm guessing that you saw some of the flak towers [1]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flak_tower https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flak_tower
    - anonymfus 10y ago
      That image of "L-Tower" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vienna_flak_tower_dsc01594.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vienna_flak_tower_dsc0159... ) reminds me the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakh_architecture https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakh_architecture , especially https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chanta.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chanta.jpg
    - bbcbasic 10y ago
      Ha ha yes maybe it was Vienna. Been on too many trips.
  - pluma 10y ago
    Hitler was a fan of gigantic architecture. The military towers are less of an example of that than the civilian structures that were built and planned, often heavily inspired by Roman architecture but scaled up quite a bit, with massive statues and flags. Speer's plans for Germania, the world capital that was supposed to be built on top of Berlin, were pretty impressive and pretty insane.
zeveb 10y ago
> It's really interesting to me to see architecture used for its typical antithesis. I dunno, I can think of a modern architect or two who could design a dystopic hellscape intended to deter humans from entering for 10,000 years in his sleep … > It is typically used to bring a sense of bring out positive emotions, to inspire, to bring facility to humanity, to sanctify. I certainly wouldn't attribute those purposes to, say, the Brutalists.

by labster 10y ago

bbcbasic 10y ago

I don't have to think too hard to make a bad UI. It comes naturally.

pluma 10y ago
It's the difference between incompetence and intentionally making things look bad. If a child draws like a child, that's probably not worth mentioning. If a brilliant artist draws like a child, that's pretty damn impressive.

rdtsc 10y ago

> It is typically used to bring a sense of bring out positive emotions, to inspire, to bring facility to humanity, to sanctify. Here it is being used to desecrate, to decrease utility, to ward away. Not that uncommon. I have known 2 architects who used architecture against probably what they learned in school or dreamed of building. One was designing casinos. Apparently they did "dark patterns" before computer UI people did it. Think about open places, to inspire and generate positive emotions and so on, well their guidelines was to entrap, confuse, isolate and promote whatever kept people playing longer. She eventually quit and became a housewife. The other one, lost their job where they designed office buildings, and the only job they found in their town was building prisons. Talk about soul crushing. Well, they said they didn't care it was just a job. But, I know it would bring me down if I was building that.

labster 10y ago
Dark patterns aren't uncommon, sure. But I feel like in trying to design a nuclear waste site they are using antipatterns, purposely trying to avoid or subvert every common pattern in design. Or in terms of the computing metaphor a dark pattern would be a website that splits content across several pages. An antipattern would loading MBs of webfonts and polyfills to display a single word and a link saying "Click here for the next word." (At least as I'm trying to use the word "antipattern"). I do not really know much about architecture personally, so I appreciate the input. I do feel sorry for the people who do the soul crushing work like that, making the world just a little worse in order to survive. We all have a choice, even if we can't see it now.
jacquesm 10y ago
> Think about open places, to inspire and generate positive emotions and so on, well their guidelines was to entrap, confuse, isolate and promote whatever kept people playing longer. > She eventually quit and became a housewife. I think she ended up working for IKEA.
willyt 10y ago
You can usually tell whether an airport is state funded or private sector by how confusing it is. Privately funded airports are optimised to get you past the maximum number of shop fronts with other distractions minimised. The tend to be labyrinthine and inward looking. This is because landing fees make up a small percentage of their revenue.
proactivesvcs 10y ago
I started my computer services business because the place I worked at doing tech support had good people but bad business practises. It felt like I was given a great opportunity to learn new skills, which I did, but then put them to such diluted use that it did our customers a disservice. I suppose that's a sign that you don't just want a job, but something to work for as part of who you are.

morgante 10y ago

> It is typically used to bring a sense of bring out positive emotions I'm not quite sure about that. Lots of architecture is used to intimidate, to signal power and that you should be afraid.

bbcbasic 10y ago
Definitely the Nazi* architecture does that. I remember seeing thee very intimidating military towers in Berlin. It was like the tower wanted to start a war itself. (*Yes I said the magic word, it is now one of THOSE threads!)
- morgante 10y ago
  Albert Speer had some truly amazing work. Though it was used for a terrible end, the technical innovations behind it were very impressive.
- rjsw 10y ago
  I'm guessing that you saw some of the flak towers [1]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flak_tower https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flak_tower
  - anonymfus 10y ago
    That image of "L-Tower" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vienna_flak_tower_dsc01594.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vienna_flak_tower_dsc0159... ) reminds me the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakh_architecture https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakh_architecture , especially https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chanta.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chanta.jpg
  - bbcbasic 10y ago
    Ha ha yes maybe it was Vienna. Been on too many trips.
- pluma 10y ago
  Hitler was a fan of gigantic architecture. The military towers are less of an example of that than the civilian structures that were built and planned, often heavily inspired by Roman architecture but scaled up quite a bit, with massive statues and flags. Speer's plans for Germania, the world capital that was supposed to be built on top of Berlin, were pretty impressive and pretty insane.

zeveb 10y ago

> It's really interesting to me to see architecture used for its typical antithesis. I dunno, I can think of a modern architect or two who could design a dystopic hellscape intended to deter humans from entering for 10,000 years in his sleep … > It is typically used to bring a sense of bring out positive emotions, to inspire, to bring facility to humanity, to sanctify. I certainly wouldn't attribute those purposes to, say, the Brutalists.