Architectural Connections
Maybe I'm reaching a bit too far on this one, but as soon as I saw the design for Donald Trump's modestly-titled Trump Soho by David Rockwell, I immediately thought of an unbuilt project by Tadao Ando in the same city.
These doctored images try to illustrate where I see the similarities, namely in the only two overt design gestures by Ando in his penthouse renovation/addition, a glass bar capping the existing building and a diagonal glass bar appearing to pierce the building (it comes out on the other side, not apparent in the rendering below) a few floors below. Perhaps the latter element has a stronger connection with Rockwell's design where -- even though it's all new construction and is protruding from a glass wall instead of stone -- it's treated as a strong, linear gesture in front of a muted and repetitive background.
Feel free to tell me if I'm full of it, though keep in mind that I'm not saying Rockwell was inspired by or copied Ando's design (they're physically not that similar) but moreso that our minds make some interesting and unpredictable connections owing, in no small part, to the limitations of architectural imagery.
These doctored images try to illustrate where I see the similarities, namely in the only two overt design gestures by Ando in his penthouse renovation/addition, a glass bar capping the existing building and a diagonal glass bar appearing to pierce the building (it comes out on the other side, not apparent in the rendering below) a few floors below. Perhaps the latter element has a stronger connection with Rockwell's design where -- even though it's all new construction and is protruding from a glass wall instead of stone -- it's treated as a strong, linear gesture in front of a muted and repetitive background.
Feel free to tell me if I'm full of it, though keep in mind that I'm not saying Rockwell was inspired by or copied Ando's design (they're physically not that similar) but moreso that our minds make some interesting and unpredictable connections owing, in no small part, to the limitations of architectural imagery.
Not seeing it :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe, maybe not. The Ando proposal looks to be for a building on 7th Ave in the high 20's which was converted to coops about 6 or 7 years ago. A ridiculous proposal. The Rockwell/Trump proposal only adds a bit to an otherwise Ok proposal but what smacks me as rank bad planning is that the site, currently a parking lot, is virtually at the mouth of the Holland Tunnel. I suppose anyone rich enough is dumb enough to sit in a cab for half an hour with the meter ticking to go the last few blocks to the doorman should he still be breathing. But there is a subway stop a half block away.
ReplyDeletestretching a bit, but i guess i can see it...
ReplyDeleteon the other hand the new building is not remotely close to the quality of ando's idea...rockwell is very good at being bland...
Anonymous said it best: "Rockwell is very good at being bland."
ReplyDeleteHe hit the nail on the head right there. He's bland at best. I'm so over his work... never really into it, actually.
I was surprised when I saw that Rockwell is the architect for Trump's Soho project. His name makes me think of restaurants, set design, and other interior jobs, not buildings and definitely not of this scale. He seems to have a theatrical approach to design, something that may be appropriate in this case (each building is an actor in the island's ongoing play) but also may just as easily be the wrong approach on this project if taken too literally.
ReplyDeleteI see it, totally. It's not that the buildings are similar, it's that these representations are similar.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I could only hope that the Rockwell's proposal would be theatrical as you say - then it would at least make some sort of contribution to the city. So far this seems like a hideous (not bland) addition to soho/tribeca. It is interesting that you thought of Ando though, since he is someone who I see as diametrically opposed to Rockwell, where his proposals+built work are brimming with complexity, sensitivity to site, light, space, people and community...
ReplyDeleteYeah I see the comparison, though Ando's insertions seem to be a bit more thoughtful in some sense (though this can be argued). It was a suprising scheme to me as well (the trump proposal)
ReplyDeleteHow about Atelier in midtown?
ReplyDeleteRockwell is only doing the interiors - Handel Architects is responsible for the architecture of the tower.
ReplyDelete