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Pure brutalism is bad enough I think, just for the building itself, that the Houston Public Library serves its function very well. It is an excellent building
by stcredzero 10y ago
Pure brutalism is bad enough
I think, just for the building itself, that the Houston Public Library serves its function very well. It is an excellent building for its purpose, and I rather like going there. The courtyard outside, though, is a stellar example of how US culture has completely forgotten how to create public spaces of value. (Why is it that Houston, of all places, seems to be challenged to remember why shade is useful!)
- ghaff 10y agoOne of the things that seems to happen is that there's often a sufficient aversion to businesses making money in public spaces that you end up with barren expanses rather than cafes, shops/stalls, etc. In Boston the difference between the utilization of City Hall Plaza and Quincy Market/Fanueil Hall is instructive. That's not to say that public parks need to be crammed full of commerce but people often need some reason beyond "open space" to go into an area.