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November 6, 2006
Architects change their view of the lowly roof
LA Times
By Christopher Hawthorne
Architects are paying more attention to rooftops as higher-density urban development comes our way, and tools like Google Earth give people a birds-eye view of their neighborhoods.
And in many of the world's biggest cities, increasing density means occupants of one building are more likely than ever to look down on another. The pair of towers Frank Gehry is designing on Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles will overlook not only new retail pavilions but also the architect's Walt Disney Concert Hall across the street.
"It's an issue in Brooklyn too," Gehry said, referring to his design for the $4.2-billion Atlantic Yards development, which will include more than a dozen tightly packed towers.
NoLandGrab: This is a welcome phenomenon for architect Frank Gehry, who has been frequently criticized for creating designs that look better "from a passing airplane," than the street.
Posted by lumi at November 6, 2006 8:42 AM