3 ms·

I wholeheartedly agree with everything you wrote, and I see we share the same taste in architecture. I love GCT, it's one of my favorite train stations in the

I wholeheartedly agree with everything you wrote, and I see we share the same taste in architecture. I love GCT, it's one of my favorite train stations in the world. London Paddington [1] and Antwerp Central [2] are also quite stunning and both have an interesting history. In the same vein, I'd like to recommend watching the new drama series 'Mr Selfridge' starring Jeremy Piven. It depicts the early days of legendary London department store Selfridges [3]. Starting March 31, it'll air on PBS [4]. [1] http://theworklife.com/graham-miln/files/2012/01/Beautiful-iron-facade-at-Paddington-Station.jpg http://theworklife.com/graham-miln/files/2012/01/Beautiful-i... [2] http://dairyfreetraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Antwerp-Central-Station.jpg http://dairyfreetraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Antw... [3] http://london-sightseeing.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Selfridges-Oxford-Street-London.jpg http://london-sightseeing.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Sel... [4] http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/series/mr-selfridge/ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/series/mr-selfr...

bane 14y ago
I appreciate the recommendations and will definitely check them out. As an aside, I read reddit's r/architecture and find lots of the modern architecture discussed there quite dreadful, the group think seems to think that lots of flat rectangles with random material use. Everything looks same-same, unlivable and boring. Walk around Grand Central and it's a model of efficiency, the number of people that can move about that facility without getting jammed up on thresholds and transitions, and oddball "innovative" hallways is staggering. Tall ceilings bring in ample natural light, the information desk is stunningly easy to find and offers the most important piece of information a train rider needs, a clock, large and high enough you can see it clearly from pretty much everywhere. And it's simply a beautiful building as well. It's magnificent. I'm convinced that the post WWII reaction to these older styles is where we collectively lost our minds, and we're only now starting to get them back.
- Samuel_Michon 14y ago
  I agree. I like the neo-classicist, Victorian, and Beaux-Arts styles of architecture. Apart from the aesthetics, the buildings of that time were (overall) certainly thought out well. As Steve Jobs said: “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” However, I know of contemporary architecture that accomplishes that as well. For example, take a gander at Louis Kahn’s National Assembly Building of Bangladesh [1] or Ton Albers' Gas Union building in Groningen, The Netherlands [2] [1] http://www.archdaily.com/83071/ad-classics-national-assembly-building-of-bangladesh-louis-kahn/parliament5/ http://www.archdaily.com/83071/ad-classics-national-assembly... [2] http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=gasunie http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=gasunie
  - bane 14y ago
    One thing that's great about Neoclassical, etc. style of architecture is how well it blended in and complemented earlier styles. The Baroque Château de Maisons-Laffitte [1] would look splendid next to the Palais Garnier [2] built 200 years later all in a fictional city next to the Pantheon [3] built 2000 prior! [1] - http://www.maisonslaffitte.net/ http://www.maisonslaffitte.net/ [2] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palais_Garnier http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palais_Garnier [3] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon,_Rome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon,_Rome I think this influence carried forward and evolved into Art Deco [4] somewhat, and the war simply killed off this entire line of movement. [4] - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Chrysler_Building_spire%2C_Manhattan%2C_by_Carol_Highsmith_%28LOC_highsm.04444%29.png http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Chrysler_... And then we end up with eyesores like the J Edgar Hoover building http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fbi_headquarters.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fbi_headquarters.jpg
    - Samuel_Michon 14y ago
      I love love love the Chrysler building's spire, and Art Deco in general. My fondest memory of an art outing is of when I went to a general exhibit of Art Deco architecture, furniture, fashion, jewelry, music, and poster art at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London in 2003. It was truly amazing. Amongst other great works, they had rebuilt an entire authentic 30s art deco hotel foyer in the museum. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2270898.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2270898.stm

bane 14y ago

I appreciate the recommendations and will definitely check them out. As an aside, I read reddit's r/architecture and find lots of the modern architecture discussed there quite dreadful, the group think seems to think that lots of flat rectangles with random material use. Everything looks same-same, unlivable and boring. Walk around Grand Central and it's a model of efficiency, the number of people that can move about that facility without getting jammed up on thresholds and transitions, and oddball "innovative" hallways is staggering. Tall ceilings bring in ample natural light, the information desk is stunningly easy to find and offers the most important piece of information a train rider needs, a clock, large and high enough you can see it clearly from pretty much everywhere. And it's simply a beautiful building as well. It's magnificent. I'm convinced that the post WWII reaction to these older styles is where we collectively lost our minds, and we're only now starting to get them back.

Samuel_Michon 14y ago
I agree. I like the neo-classicist, Victorian, and Beaux-Arts styles of architecture. Apart from the aesthetics, the buildings of that time were (overall) certainly thought out well. As Steve Jobs said: “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” However, I know of contemporary architecture that accomplishes that as well. For example, take a gander at Louis Kahn’s National Assembly Building of Bangladesh [1] or Ton Albers' Gas Union building in Groningen, The Netherlands [2] [1] http://www.archdaily.com/83071/ad-classics-national-assembly-building-of-bangladesh-louis-kahn/parliament5/ http://www.archdaily.com/83071/ad-classics-national-assembly... [2] http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=gasunie http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=gasunie
- bane 14y ago
  One thing that's great about Neoclassical, etc. style of architecture is how well it blended in and complemented earlier styles. The Baroque Château de Maisons-Laffitte [1] would look splendid next to the Palais Garnier [2] built 200 years later all in a fictional city next to the Pantheon [3] built 2000 prior! [1] - http://www.maisonslaffitte.net/ http://www.maisonslaffitte.net/ [2] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palais_Garnier http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palais_Garnier [3] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon,_Rome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon,_Rome I think this influence carried forward and evolved into Art Deco [4] somewhat, and the war simply killed off this entire line of movement. [4] - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Chrysler_Building_spire%2C_Manhattan%2C_by_Carol_Highsmith_%28LOC_highsm.04444%29.png http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Chrysler_... And then we end up with eyesores like the J Edgar Hoover building http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fbi_headquarters.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fbi_headquarters.jpg
  - Samuel_Michon 14y ago
    I love love love the Chrysler building's spire, and Art Deco in general. My fondest memory of an art outing is of when I went to a general exhibit of Art Deco architecture, furniture, fashion, jewelry, music, and poster art at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London in 2003. It was truly amazing. Amongst other great works, they had rebuilt an entire authentic 30s art deco hotel foyer in the museum. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2270898.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2270898.stm