Comments on: Nothing but blue skies…

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 06:42:29 +0000

Yes. I’m trying to find a link which tells me more about this project by Alsop for the Toronto subway. [ http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/468xAny/n/r/u/Toronto_station_sket_18F81D.jpg ] Perhaps you have better access than me?

Following from Marian’s comment – it is a great idea to commission different architects to design entry/exit junction points on the cycle tube. As the tube moves through different parts of London the context would change dramatically making different creative design responses a boon. Definitely scope for some serious architectural and landscape heritage!

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 06:27:50 +0000

I am prejudiced to the extent that I have not seen many of Will Alsop’s buildings but from what I have seen, and from your links too, I think the man is a complete bufoon. It is difficult to imagine that real owners or users of buildings would commission him. My theory is that he gets work from surrogate clients – petty bureaucrats working for larger organizations who want to make names for themselves, and relieve the tedium of their lives, by having brief stints as avant garde cultural patrons – at other people’s expense. To me, the fact that he has managed to earn a living as an architect points to serious flaws in the architectural patronage system.
Would I say the same about Frank Gehry? I might have done – but I’d have been wrong.

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 06:16:11 +0000

Tom, Will Alsop’s use of the pilotis and suspended building is qualifably interesting as are some of his other design devices…[ http://lkt2.wordpress.com/2007/11/23/stilt-house/ ]. And perhaps his rejection of theory within architecture needs a little more elaboration? His non-theory and practice is almost POST-post-modern!

Is this why you have dubbed him the clown prince of British Architecture?
[ http://jamestamp.com/2005/01/where-theres-will-alsop-theres-uhgiant.html ] and [ http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=984 ]

Marian, interesting idea. Possibly….

By: Marian

Marian — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:15:05 +0000

It makes me think of Tom’s cycle tunnels. Could they be related?

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:57:36 +0000

It is a great achievement in computer graphics and reminds me of Archigram and, to a lesser extent of the Clown Prince of British Architecture: Will Alsop.