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McMansion or not?

zjpj83

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Originally Posted by StephenHero
That's actual the point I've been making the whole time which you've been trying to undermine. Good design is functional, an honest representation of its use and user's need, and simplistic. There are certain places you would expect to find gold interiors with ceiling frescoes featuring angelic themes, like 18th century French castles. One of the last places you'd expect to find it is on the 80th floor of a 1970's high rise building made of steel and tinted glass. You mentioned the tepee vs. the McMansion earlier, but the tepee is the much better home. It's better because it does a better job of improving the life of its user, who needs lightweight portability and weather protection in order to migrate with the buffalo heard.
I agree with everything except that good design is "simplistic." That is not always the case, such as with respect to your 18th century French castle example, or any other sort of palace. "Opulence" - and by this I mean Rococo ornateness - has its place. But, as you suggest, it has no more place in a 1970's high rise building than mid-century modern has in Buckingham Palace.
 

turboman808

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Originally Posted by Piobaire
Oh hai, is Donald Trump "really rich?"

3608679190_c5d7ee8cd8_z.jpg


Yep I would totally do that if I could. I need many more millions first.
laugh.gif
 

Piobaire

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Originally Posted by StephenHero
That's actual the point I've been making the whole time which you've been trying to undermine. Good design is functional, an honest representation of its use and user's need, and simplistic. There are certain places you would expect to find gold interiors with ceiling frescoes featuring angelic themes, like 18th century French castles. One of the last places you'd expect to find it is on the 80th floor of a 1970's high rise building made of steel and tinted glass. You mentioned the tepee vs. the McMansion earlier, but the tepee is the much better home. It's better because it does a better job of improving the life of its user, who needs lightweight portability and weather protection in order to migrate with the buffalo heard.

We are closer on agreement now, however I wasn't really trying to undermine you, I was taking exception to phrases like the one I have bolded here and the one I bolded concerning what the "really rich" do. I specifically picked Santa Fe style to see what you would say, as it is descended from indigenous styles in the southwest and when done correctly, IMO it's very pleasing to the eye and fits in with the environment.
 

zjpj83

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Originally Posted by StephenHero
Simplistic as opposed to superfluous.

Some people like organized clutter. Some people like lots of photos and paintings on the walls, lots of comfortable seating for their friends and family, lots of knick-knacks and objects that carry fond memories. For most here, it seems "simplistic" means "minimalist." And that's fine. But to impose that on everyone else as the sine qua non of design, and to suggest that anything else is "new money," or shows that "money can't buy taste" or is not what "really rich people do" is just silly.
 

RSS

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Originally Posted by zjpj83
Some people like organized clutter. Some people like lots of photos and paintings on the walls, lots of comfortable seating for their friends and family, lots of knick-knacks and objects that carry fond memories.
This too can be done and done beautifully ... it's all about choosing well.


Originally Posted by zjpj83
But to impose [minimalism] on everyone else as the sine qua non of design, and to suggest that anything else is "new money," or shows that "money can't buy taste" or is not what "really rich people do" is just silly.
Completely true. I respect minimalism done well ... but it's not for me ... except for brief periods.
 

Piobaire

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Originally Posted by zjpj83
Some people like organized clutter. Some people like lots of photos and paintings on the walls, lots of comfortable seating for their friends and family, lots of knick-knacks and objects that carry fond memories. For most here, it seems "simplistic" means "minimalist." And that's fine. But to impose that on everyone else as the sine qua non of design, and to suggest that anything else is "new money," or shows that "money can't buy taste" or is not what "really rich people do" is just silly.

This is exactly why I picked Santa Fe style to get comments on. Its aesthetic is foreign enough to most eyes to be easily dismissed and not have its balance and beauty (when done right) noticed.
 

StephenHero

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I'm not saying things need to be minimalist, but there should be a simplistic logic to the use of complexity. Complexity for complexity's sake is contrived and stupid. This roof is incredibly complex because it undulates parametrically and features non-standardized engineering but it's a necessary complexity to solve a problem with a simple answer: how do you connect a round inner base with a square outer base to provide and much light as possible. The wave in the glass is necessary for compressive strength which minimizes the structural width, and the curving pattern of the mullions is necessary to resolve the geometry at the corners.
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Then there is this form complexity in design. The only purpose is to allow the person to show how complex and advanced their shape making skills are.
Menzis+office,+Groningen+by+Cie+5.jpg
dzn_South-West-TAFE-by-Lyons-3-.jpg
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StephenHero

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It's grad student work. Somebody is trying to find a computer modeling job.
 

mordecai

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well moss deserves to be there. tim burton of architecture

trivida.jpg
 

turboman808

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Seriously all I see here is a prison cell. I'm really not sure what you guys find so appealing about this.

I can understand not liking things over the top. But this is the answer.

Originally Posted by StephenHero
silvestrin_arancia_2a.jpg
 

mordecai

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Originally Posted by turboman808
Seriously all I see here is a prison cell. I'm really not sure what you guys find so appealing about this.

I can understand not liking things over the top. But this is the answer.


funny. when i saw the ornate room i thought of

2001-1.jpg
 

StephenHero

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Originally Posted by turboman808
Seriously all I see here is a prison cell. I'm really not sure what you guys find so appealing about this.
You just have horrible taste.
 

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