8 ms·

100%. Sure, the billionaire is probably an asshole, but he’s also 97 and not an architect. The real problem here is the leadership at the university deciding to

by yashap 5y ago

100%. Sure, the billionaire is probably an asshole, but he’s also 97 and not an architect. The real problem here is the leadership at the university deciding to move forward with this monstrosity just to get a big donation.

goodcanadian 5y ago
I am pretty sure Charlie Munger is far from being an asshole. He is also pretty far from being an architect. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Munger https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Munger https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Munger#Architectural_efforts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Munger#Architectural_e...
- clintonb 5y ago
  Using your wealth to forcefully prop up your fledgling(?) career seems like an asshole move. Donating funds with some strings (e.g., put your name on the building/school)? Fine. Donating and forcing your amateur designs be used? Asshole move. At that point you're not really trying to benefit anyone but yourself.
exhilaration 5y ago
But money! I agree that this is a pretty crazy project, but that's a lot of money to turn down for a public university.
- xenophonf 5y ago
  The bequest isn't anywhere even close to covering the entire cost of the building, which is what blows my mind.
indodima 5y ago
You do not need to be an architect to see that living in windowless boxes (not rooms) will damage young adults psychologically. Just put yourself into this room and try to study for 6 hours a day. It looks worse than a prison cell. This old fart probably has his own ideas about how poor students need to work and live in order to "earn" an education. Not to mention anything regarding virus spreading...
- asiachick 5y ago
  Millions of people ( billions?) live in windowless boxes (not rooms) and there is no evidence they're damaged psychologically. I'm not saying I don't prefer windows but this kind of statement strikes me as privileged bubble thinking.
- themitigating 5y ago
  But you do need to prove that statement because you are implying it's obvious
  - comrh 5y ago
    There's a huge amount of research done by actual architects on what makes a building "healthy" for human occupation. https://www.wellcertified.com/ https://www.wellcertified.com/
    - asiachick 5y ago
      There's also an incentive for them to make buildings as large and as expensive as possible as they it affects their income. Certainly I'd argue self interestedly that all living quarters should be as large and extravagant as possible as I'd like to live in a large extravagant place. But, millions (billions?) of people are doing just fine in much smaller places than these self interested architects are suggesting.
      - comrh 5y ago
        That's not really how architecture works. There is a client supplied budget and site that multiple architecture firms submit proposals for. Suggesting a needlessly large and expensive building will do nothing but leave you without any work.
- gbronner 5y ago
  The goal is to get the students out of their bedrooms. There's plenty of common space, and lots of really nice places to go study and socialize out of your bedroom. This is intended to promote real-life socialization, which is the only real reason to go to in-person college these days. Plus, everyone gets a single! My college roommates had blackout curtains on the small windows in our rooms. Not sure how this is different.
Belphemur 5y ago
Maybe they're betting on the donor dying before having to start the project, and hope to keep the money ?
- hnlmorg 5y ago
  If the donor is attaching terms to the donation then I'd expect there will be some sort of contract in place to ensure his terms are met.
  - kylecordes 5y ago
    His heirs might be much more reasonable about renegotiating it.
    - hnlmorg 5y ago
      Maybe but we're now drifting really far into the realm of blind speculation.

by yashap 5y ago

goodcanadian 5y ago

I am pretty sure Charlie Munger is far from being an asshole. He is also pretty far from being an architect. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Munger https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Munger https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Munger#Architectural_efforts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Munger#Architectural_e...

clintonb 5y ago
Using your wealth to forcefully prop up your fledgling(?) career seems like an asshole move. Donating funds with some strings (e.g., put your name on the building/school)? Fine. Donating and forcing your amateur designs be used? Asshole move. At that point you're not really trying to benefit anyone but yourself.

exhilaration 5y ago

But money! I agree that this is a pretty crazy project, but that's a lot of money to turn down for a public university.

xenophonf 5y ago
The bequest isn't anywhere even close to covering the entire cost of the building, which is what blows my mind.

indodima 5y ago

You do not need to be an architect to see that living in windowless boxes (not rooms) will damage young adults psychologically. Just put yourself into this room and try to study for 6 hours a day. It looks worse than a prison cell. This old fart probably has his own ideas about how poor students need to work and live in order to "earn" an education. Not to mention anything regarding virus spreading...

asiachick 5y ago
Millions of people ( billions?) live in windowless boxes (not rooms) and there is no evidence they're damaged psychologically. I'm not saying I don't prefer windows but this kind of statement strikes me as privileged bubble thinking.
themitigating 5y ago
But you do need to prove that statement because you are implying it's obvious
- comrh 5y ago
  There's a huge amount of research done by actual architects on what makes a building "healthy" for human occupation. https://www.wellcertified.com/ https://www.wellcertified.com/
  - asiachick 5y ago
    There's also an incentive for them to make buildings as large and as expensive as possible as they it affects their income. Certainly I'd argue self interestedly that all living quarters should be as large and extravagant as possible as I'd like to live in a large extravagant place. But, millions (billions?) of people are doing just fine in much smaller places than these self interested architects are suggesting.
    - comrh 5y ago
      That's not really how architecture works. There is a client supplied budget and site that multiple architecture firms submit proposals for. Suggesting a needlessly large and expensive building will do nothing but leave you without any work.
gbronner 5y ago
The goal is to get the students out of their bedrooms. There's plenty of common space, and lots of really nice places to go study and socialize out of your bedroom. This is intended to promote real-life socialization, which is the only real reason to go to in-person college these days. Plus, everyone gets a single! My college roommates had blackout curtains on the small windows in our rooms. Not sure how this is different.

Belphemur 5y ago

Maybe they're betting on the donor dying before having to start the project, and hope to keep the money ?

hnlmorg 5y ago
If the donor is attaching terms to the donation then I'd expect there will be some sort of contract in place to ensure his terms are met.
- kylecordes 5y ago
  His heirs might be much more reasonable about renegotiating it.
  - hnlmorg 5y ago
    Maybe but we're now drifting really far into the realm of blind speculation.