5 ms·

For government buildings it actually looks good. Compare that to Boston's government center abomination, this is refreshing. I'm glad Google is refreshing it an

For government buildings it actually looks good. Compare that to Boston's government center abomination, this is refreshing. I'm glad Google is refreshing it and at least doing something to maintain it.

ghaff 3y ago
Boston City Hall is pretty much the nadir of Soviet-looking Brutalism.
- SoftTalker 3y ago
  No reason a government building should be anything but functional. Expensive, hard-to-build, difficult-to-maintain design is tax money spent for no benefit.
  - pseudalopex 3y ago
    Are brutalist buildings less expensive, easier to build, and easier to maintain?
    - SoftTalker 3y ago
      I can't answer that, but I think governments should use standard office buildings like everyone else. No need to spend extra money on appearances. In many cases they do. The local IRS office, Social Security office, state governent offices etc. are located here in standard office park type buildings. It's fine. The city offices on the other hand are in some historic rehabbed 19th century space that was expensive to refit as it was never meant to be an office building, it's terrible from a heating/cooling efficiency standpoint because it wasn't built with that in mind, it has a much larger footprint than necessary because it's a two-story, sprawling complex, and it's on land that would otherwise be very valuable for other business or residential properties, so there is a tremendous opportunity cost in terms of property tax that could be collected from that location. But it looks nice.
  - cozzyd 3y ago
    Should the US Capitol look like a Wal-Mart?
    - phone8675309 3y ago
      It did on January 6th, 2021.
- dmitrygr 3y ago
  Brutalism started in the UK (usually attributed to Alison and Peter Smithson). I suppose you could argue that Le Corbusier invented most of its characteristics earlier. But in any case, USSR had nothing to do with it.
  - jnwatson 3y ago
    A lot of folks conflate brutalist with Soviet constructivist. They do look a lot alike, but come from completely different origins.
- jasomill 3y ago
  Almost. I give you… https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/gsa-regions/region-5-great-lakes/buildings-and-facilities/indiana/indianapolis-mintoncapehart-fb https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/gsa-regions/region-5-great-lake... which, while not visible in the photo, sacrifices the courtyard from the Boston design in favor of more, windowless floor space.

ghaff 3y ago

Boston City Hall is pretty much the nadir of Soviet-looking Brutalism.

SoftTalker 3y ago
No reason a government building should be anything but functional. Expensive, hard-to-build, difficult-to-maintain design is tax money spent for no benefit.
- pseudalopex 3y ago
  Are brutalist buildings less expensive, easier to build, and easier to maintain?
  - SoftTalker 3y ago
    I can't answer that, but I think governments should use standard office buildings like everyone else. No need to spend extra money on appearances. In many cases they do. The local IRS office, Social Security office, state governent offices etc. are located here in standard office park type buildings. It's fine. The city offices on the other hand are in some historic rehabbed 19th century space that was expensive to refit as it was never meant to be an office building, it's terrible from a heating/cooling efficiency standpoint because it wasn't built with that in mind, it has a much larger footprint than necessary because it's a two-story, sprawling complex, and it's on land that would otherwise be very valuable for other business or residential properties, so there is a tremendous opportunity cost in terms of property tax that could be collected from that location. But it looks nice.
- cozzyd 3y ago
  Should the US Capitol look like a Wal-Mart?
  - phone8675309 3y ago
    It did on January 6th, 2021.
dmitrygr 3y ago
Brutalism started in the UK (usually attributed to Alison and Peter Smithson). I suppose you could argue that Le Corbusier invented most of its characteristics earlier. But in any case, USSR had nothing to do with it.
- jnwatson 3y ago
  A lot of folks conflate brutalist with Soviet constructivist. They do look a lot alike, but come from completely different origins.
jasomill 3y ago
Almost. I give you… https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/gsa-regions/region-5-great-lakes/buildings-and-facilities/indiana/indianapolis-mintoncapehart-fb https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/gsa-regions/region-5-great-lake... which, while not visible in the photo, sacrifices the courtyard from the Boston design in favor of more, windowless floor space.