Video of the Week

Miles Jaffe, Crank or Gadfly?

I've worked in the Hamptons for many years now and have never come across this story.  Check out this "alternative" view of the Hamptons from the son of the east ends most prolific architect. Miles Jaffe, son of Norman Jaffe, author of Nukethehamptons.com and The Hamptons Dictionary speaks his mind.

Hamptons Dictionary

Nuke the Hamptons?

Hampton's Portfolio 3, Flying Point Road, Southampton

Hampton's Portfolio 2, Cooper's Beach, Southampton

Hampton's Portfolio 1, Amagansett

Travel Denied

Japanese Artist has left the scene, Paris, France

Celebrity Architecture in Trouble

Gate of the East Building in Suzhou China-Giant pair of pants?

In my first Architect Denied article I made a statement that I was not here to help "celebrity architecture" well I was wrong. It's become very apparent that main stream modern architecture is heading down a slippery slope. This latest link I came across makes it clear how much trouble we are really in.

On top of that we have a much bigger problem. This type of architecture is heading in a direction where "form does not follow function"  rather form follows architectural statement. Maybe what we have going here is what I call the Guggenheim effect; make your building the most different, controversial, far out, unique form possible and get recognized. This worked well for the Guggenheim in Bilbao which sparked a dirty industrial city into progressive development and became a tourist destination overnight but now this phenomena has morphed into a "look at me contest", or  "hey ma, no hands" (for those gravity defying buildings).  Take the Gate of the East Building in Suzhou China, (see in link) Buildings in Trouble it really sums up the problem. Here is what is being said about it:  "Locals say it looks like a giant pair of pants" also that "China is becoming the playground of foreign designers with laughable architecture ideas".