4 ms·

Good on the author for acknowledging (twice) that not everyone shares their sense of aesthetics. Personally I think there's a beautiful chaotic honesty in the

by dguest 4y ago

Good on the author for acknowledging (twice) that not everyone shares their sense of aesthetics. Personally I think there's a beautiful chaotic honesty in the monster building. The Vegas hotels look phony, even more so now that I know their trick.

atomicUpdate 4y ago
> Good on the author for acknowledging (twice) that not everyone shares their sense of aesthetics. I disagree. For example: > unless you like them, I'm not questioning anyone's personal taste This type of soft-pedaling is too pervasive in people’s writing nowadays. It diminishes the author’s point when they are too afraid to commit to their own opinions because they might offend someone that disagrees. This constant affirmation of “you might disagree, and that’s OK,” is irritating.
- typedfalse 4y ago
  The opposite (that it's not OK to disagree) is one of the things that has driven political and social discourse to its current hyperbolic and occasionally dangerous character. It's the source of much of the so-called "culture war". So to be clear: I disagree, you are wrong... and to follow the mindset underlying your complaint, "fuck you".
- trgn 4y ago
  It's unnecessary in this article agreed. The author has an obvious preference, just own it already. Being tolerant is a virtue, but practice this by action, in life. When writing a polemic, say what you mean! If anything, amp it up a little. Hyperbole and saturation is great when discussing matters of taste. If you're going to critique architecture, you have the best examples. Just channel some Loos who ridiculed those in favor of ornamentation for being childish uncivilized country idiots. Had great effect, we're still living in its detritus. So just do the opposite here!
  - throw3847294 4y ago
    I disagree. Being compassionate and understanding in your writing is a good thing. I'm glad the author expressed that clearly.
- goguy 4y ago
  Totally agree. It's a blog post, obviously it's your personal opinion and there's no need to explain nor excuse that.
  - throw3847294 4y ago
    There is a need if that's how he feels. He's making it clear he understands everyone's aesthetic is different.
chitza 4y ago
I live in Romania. 90% of the buildings sport this brutalist look, not to mention there are rows after rows having the same design. You get bored and depressed very quickly if you live in such environment. I'm always amazed at the diversity of the facades when I visit other european cities.
tgsovlerkhgsel 4y ago
The HK buildings feel dystopian by Western standards because they're incredibly crammed. By local standard, they might actually be pretty good (looks like each unit gets pretty large windows/"indoor balcony" style rooms).
- adastra22 4y ago
  By some western standards at least. I grew up in the west but I love the Hong Kong aesthetic.
twoquestions 4y ago
Hard same, I was wondering if I was crazy! You might also want to look into solarpunk art and urban design, at least to me it feels authentic like the monster building. When I was buying a house some years ago, and one of the places we were looking at was a subdivision outside town with all the houses being nearly the same. It was nice, and the seller talked about how they had chili cookoffs every year, and my partner really wanted to buy the place. My brain however was really put off, and wanted to get away, right now. We ultimately bought a place in town, within easy walking distance of the main intersection and all of the businesses there, and right by the park so we could walk our dog. The house is much older, and looks like it's been added to over the years, which might not be to the author's taste but I really like the authenticity. I guess when choosing between something completely designed from the top down to hide what it is and something that doesn't hide it's nature, I'm more drawn to the latter.
now__what 4y ago
Truly, tastes vary. I also think the "chaotic" buildings are much more beautiful than their Vegas counterparts. This is maybe due to my hobby of plein air/urban sketching; if I were to pick a subject to draw on-site, I would immediately be drawn to the Hong Kong buildings. There's not much visual interest to the Vegas buildings.

by dguest 4y ago

atomicUpdate 4y ago

> Good on the author for acknowledging (twice) that not everyone shares their sense of aesthetics. I disagree. For example: > unless you like them, I'm not questioning anyone's personal taste This type of soft-pedaling is too pervasive in people’s writing nowadays. It diminishes the author’s point when they are too afraid to commit to their own opinions because they might offend someone that disagrees. This constant affirmation of “you might disagree, and that’s OK,” is irritating.

typedfalse 4y ago
The opposite (that it's not OK to disagree) is one of the things that has driven political and social discourse to its current hyperbolic and occasionally dangerous character. It's the source of much of the so-called "culture war". So to be clear: I disagree, you are wrong... and to follow the mindset underlying your complaint, "fuck you".
trgn 4y ago
It's unnecessary in this article agreed. The author has an obvious preference, just own it already. Being tolerant is a virtue, but practice this by action, in life. When writing a polemic, say what you mean! If anything, amp it up a little. Hyperbole and saturation is great when discussing matters of taste. If you're going to critique architecture, you have the best examples. Just channel some Loos who ridiculed those in favor of ornamentation for being childish uncivilized country idiots. Had great effect, we're still living in its detritus. So just do the opposite here!
- throw3847294 4y ago
  I disagree. Being compassionate and understanding in your writing is a good thing. I'm glad the author expressed that clearly.
goguy 4y ago
Totally agree. It's a blog post, obviously it's your personal opinion and there's no need to explain nor excuse that.
- throw3847294 4y ago
  There is a need if that's how he feels. He's making it clear he understands everyone's aesthetic is different.

chitza 4y ago

I live in Romania. 90% of the buildings sport this brutalist look, not to mention there are rows after rows having the same design. You get bored and depressed very quickly if you live in such environment. I'm always amazed at the diversity of the facades when I visit other european cities.

tgsovlerkhgsel 4y ago

The HK buildings feel dystopian by Western standards because they're incredibly crammed. By local standard, they might actually be pretty good (looks like each unit gets pretty large windows/"indoor balcony" style rooms).

adastra22 4y ago
By some western standards at least. I grew up in the west but I love the Hong Kong aesthetic.

twoquestions 4y ago

Hard same, I was wondering if I was crazy! You might also want to look into solarpunk art and urban design, at least to me it feels authentic like the monster building. When I was buying a house some years ago, and one of the places we were looking at was a subdivision outside town with all the houses being nearly the same. It was nice, and the seller talked about how they had chili cookoffs every year, and my partner really wanted to buy the place. My brain however was really put off, and wanted to get away, right now. We ultimately bought a place in town, within easy walking distance of the main intersection and all of the businesses there, and right by the park so we could walk our dog. The house is much older, and looks like it's been added to over the years, which might not be to the author's taste but I really like the authenticity. I guess when choosing between something completely designed from the top down to hide what it is and something that doesn't hide it's nature, I'm more drawn to the latter.

now__what 4y ago

Truly, tastes vary. I also think the "chaotic" buildings are much more beautiful than their Vegas counterparts. This is maybe due to my hobby of plein air/urban sketching; if I were to pick a subject to draw on-site, I would immediately be drawn to the Hong Kong buildings. There's not much visual interest to the Vegas buildings.