Wednesday, December 13, 2006
The New City Hall vs. New New City Hall, Part II
Armchair Gen. Savin Hill pulls punches on City Hall:
Armchair Gen. Savin Hill pulls punches on City Hall:
Level the monstrosity. Simply put, Boston City Hall is the single worst large-scale city government building ever conceived. It's an abortion without form or function, and comes from an era of architecture that defined itself by what things are NOT. Exposed concrete and an inverted zigurat is a statement that screams "See? It's not really what you think it is!" -- which is oh so clever, nope, never heard that before in the 20th century, gosh, give that artist a blue ribbon and a government grant. Architecturally, that building is a loud fart at an early morning mass. The only statement it makes is boorish and inappropriate. City government is not a place to make a statement about disconnected-ness of modern life. As a sick, darkly humorous joke, it works. A building that says to every visitor "enter and be puzzled" is the antithesis of common sense. Dibs on the first chunk of exposed concrete leveled by the wrecking ball.Tell us what you really think, Armchair Gen. Savin Hill. ... I did like the fart joke. I've always liked fart jokes. They're the high art of potty humor, if you ask me. ... Charles agrees with high-brow moi on City Hall. So it's settled. City Hall shall remain City Hall. ...
