The Malaysian Insider :: Features
The Malaysian Insider :: Features |
| World’s top 10 ugliest buildings Posted: 17 Jul 2011 02:45 AM PDT  Industriens Hus in Copenhagen is plastered in advertising. — Reuters file pic With this in mind the site has announced its third annual list of the world's top 10 ugliest buildings and asked Mark Baez, A.I.A. and Principal Project Designer at Venice, California-based M Designs to comment on the final list. Of one particularly unsightly choice Baez asked "An exercise in geometry in dire need of an exorcism?" Reuters has not endorsed this list:  Sheffield Hallam University is said to resemble a mash up of a Jiffy Pop package, a salad spinner and a food processor. — Reuters file pic Resembling a mash up of a Jiffy Pop package, a salad spinner, and a food processor, this unusual complex was originally built as the National Centre for Popular Music. When it closed down after just over a year of business it was sold to Sheffield Hallam University and is now the school's student union. 2. Grand Lisboa Hotel; Macau With a solid resemblance to the "I Dream of Jeannie" lamp, this flashy structure can at least be admired for its campiness. As if it weren't flashy enough as is, the exterior actually lights up with over one million colourful LED lights. 3. M2 Building; Tokyo-to, Japan A creation of lauded Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the M2 is disjointed, depressing and downright dirty. VirtualTourist.com member "robertbaum" said it all: "The building seems to be used by a funeral service provider." 4. Spruce Tree Center; Saint Paul, Minnesota Proving that it's not easy being green, the Spruce Tree Centre is like an 80s version of the Emerald City. Occupying a significant chunk of city real estate, it almost forces residents to look at it.  Critics say Grand Lisboa Hotel is reminiscent of the "I Dream of Jeannie" lamp. — Reuters file pic It's almost impossible to believe that the same city that's home to the Uffizi, the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, and the Ponte Vecchio could also be home to this. While it would be a blight almost anywhere, this structure, which looks like three buildings that got into a wreck with each other, seems especially out of place here. 6. Whitney Museum of American Art; New York City, New York While many praise this building's simplicity, others much prefer the aesthetics on the inside. Followers of VirtualTourist's Ugly Buildings lists may be distressed to learn that the museum's new building was designed by Renzo Piano, architect of the Pompidou Center which appeared on the list two years ago. 7. Industriens Hus; Copenhagen, Denmark Whether this advertising-covered box is seen in the harsh light of day or glowing in all its neon glory at night, it's hard to know which is the best (or worst) state in which to view it. Smack dab in the middle of the city, it's all but impossible to avoid. 8. Hong Kong Museum of Art; Kowloon, Hong Kong It's the non-descript factor of this building that seems to bother its critics the most. While it may be bland and featureless on the outside, inside it's a dynamic and fascinating place with over 15,000 separate works of art. 9. Van Gogh Museum; Amsterdam, The Netherlands The bland, almost colourless facade of this museum has little to do with the vibrant, expressive works of the artist to whom it pays tribute. Resembling half of a half-open hatbox, this building looks as if it has yet to be completed. 10. Plattenbauten; Germany Pre-fab, a term that can set the heart of an architect aflutter, is given new meaning in parts of Germany. Glum and impersonal, these charmless apartment buildings which are remnants of the city's communist past look more like storage units than dwellings. Mercifully, many are being either renovated or torn down. — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Hong Kong exhibition embraces its love of superheroes Posted: 17 Jul 2011 02:08 AM PDT  A familiar face pops up in Chow Kar-hoo's "The World's Local Cop," 2011. — AFP/Relaxnews pic "I have been eagerly awaiting this great opportunity — a chance to combine the best of American superhero epics with the best of Chinese and Asian classical filmmaking for a motion picture that would be excitedly received worldwide," Lee said in the statement made earlier this month announcing his plans. Down in Hong Kong, the influence of Lee's characters — and indeed of all manner of superheroes — has long been spread throughout all facets of society, a fact that is being reflected in a new exhibition being staged at the city's Shin Hwa Gallery titled "Heroes Next Door." Local artists Chow Kar-hoo and Chris Lam — members of what Hong Kong calls the "post-80s generation" — have turned their attention to the characters they call the "avatars for our hopes, dreams and desires." "The iconic figures have the ability to address serious issues, toward self and society, identity and ideology," Chow said in launching the exhibition, which will run until the end of the month. By placing familiar figures such as Spider-Man and Superman in distinctly "Hong Kong" settings, the artist says he "wishes that the traditions in Hong Kong will not face extinction." Lam's images too mix up recognised characters with current social issues in both Hong Kong and China — hence Captain America's distended jaw depicts the region's growing "greed." The issues raised are pertinent in Hong Kong as the city works towards the government's goal of becoming Asia's "arts hub" — and there is much debate over how much international influence should be allowed in such projects as the city's HK$21.6 billion (RM8.3 billion) West Kowloon Art District. That area is being planned in order to put the city on the world's artistic map, and is in direct opposition to such projects as Singapore's Marina Bay entertainment and arts district. — AFP/Relaxnews Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Features To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan