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February 12, 2011
Does Nicolai Ouroussoff understand that a city is more than just a skyline?
The Naparstek Post
By Aaron Naparstek
This blog post uses architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff's look at the tower designed by Frank Ghery's at 8 Spruce Street to demonstrate Ouroussoff's support of architecture that mostly serves the vanity of the architect.
My stream of consciousness and I read New York Times architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff’s review of the new Frank Gehry tower in Lower Manhattan. Nicolai’s text is in block quotes…
A more recent foray, the massive Atlantic Yards development in Brooklyn, drew the ire of local activists, who depicted him as an aging liberal in bed with the devil — a New York City real estate developer.
Um, yeah, right. Those uppity Brooklyn activists were angry that an architect was working with a real estate developer. That was definitely the only issue there.
it seemed to epitomize the skyline’s transformation from a symbol of American commerce to a display of individual wealth.
Yay?… Oh, wait, he’s just reporting. Good observation, Nick!
...
See, to Nicolai Ourossoff, the way a building looks is much more important than the way it integrates with a community, relates to the neighborhood, impacts a city’s transportation system, quality of life and long-term sustainability. According to Nick, “None of this matters” as long as the building looks interesting on a postcard view of the skyline.
Posted by steve at February 12, 2011 4:24 PM