An Interesting Twist: Credit for Trying
While we don’t think the building on the right is necessarily going to win any awards, we think it deserves some credit for not being the building on the left. It feels modern in a 1970’s kind of way. We like the materials and windows a hell of a lot better than its neighbor (which…
While we don’t think the building on the right is necessarily going to win any awards, we think it deserves some credit for not being the building on the left. It feels modern in a 1970’s kind of way. We like the materials and windows a hell of a lot better than its neighbor (which typifies everything that’s wrong with new homebuilding in neighborhoods like Bed Stuy); the top floor looks like it would make a great art studio. So what do you think? Points for trying? GMAP
My Clinton Hill/Bed-Stuy brick townhouse, was mass produced 100 years ago, but all of the details are beautiful. Under 10 layers of paint I found white marble fireplaces and mantles and mahagoney bannisters that had been painted brown. They don’t make those McMansions like they used to.
I’m not an architect nor an engineer.(nor a poet for that matter)
However, being this is “brownstoner” you’ll tend to get a somewhat homogeneous group of people that “tend” to appreciate brownstones. Most of whom will think a building like these two are Friggin’ UGLY!
So there! Just like I don’t have to like nor accept the fact that men now wear skin Tight Suits… ( I weigh almost 2 fiddy ), I don’t have to start liking these new buildings.
Oh please Seamus, Brownstones were the McMansions of their day, using the cheapest building techniques and cheapest materials their developers could get away with (thats what brownstone was, a cheap porous stone) to satisfy the nuevo rich of their day.
Please dont mistake the ‘weight’ of a brick home with quality construction. Modern ‘Balloon-frame’ construction is extremely strong and durable and much more WATERPROOF then victorian era brick.
While you may like the ‘heavy’ feel of a 150yr old brick home, no developer/builder could afford to build like that today. You (and many others here) are going to have to accept that building techniques have changed (not for the worse) and that while much ‘lighter’, current frame construction is extremely strong and durable.
Sorry, Black Maria, I haven’t seen it, but will trust you that its ugly and designed by a real architect, certainly feasible. However, please take my statement as a whole: “… but get a real architect that designs for a quality living experience in the 21st century. Use quality construction and materials and build something that you, the buyers and the neighborhood can be proud of.” Sounds like the architect of the building you’re describing failed to do that.
Uhuh SeamusMacD. The guy a couple doors in from the corner of Vanderbilt and Willioughby (across from the back door to Dillon) got a “real architect” and that building is totally so totally freaking exquisite. You agree right? I mean, he was a top of the line semi famous one from what I heard.
Personally, I’d live in the pink fugliness specimen a lot faster than that hideous black hulking thing on Vanderbilt. In fact, the gray house on the right looks downright classic by comparison.
Once again the brownstoner anti-design lobby misses the point. Its not the fact that these buildings are “modern”, its the fact that they are ugly, pooly designed and use the cheapest materials and constuction techniques that the developer can get away with. If you want to build modern and you’re not in a Landmark neighborhood, bring it on. But get a real architect that designs for a quality living experience in the 21st century. Use quality construction and materials and build something that you, the buyers and the neighborhood can be proud of. Instead of these Mad Max, stack up the cinder blocks, find some cheapo windows, and perhaps toss in some Fedders holes and top it off with electric meters at the entrance abominations.
i think in general that new constuction should be modern and functional. 19th century details should remain in the 19th century. lest’s keep up w/ design in the 21st century
The windows in the modern building provides as much, if not more, natural light as any brownstone. What are you people talking about? Further, the building is detached and perhaps has windows which provide ample room for a/c units; though I’m sure it has central air. The building on the right simply rocks! I love it!
Right on, David, right on! David, do you have a blog? If so, I’d like to log in over there.
IMO,I don’t really see why anyone would be eager to dole out points to the building on the right just because it is not of the Fedders variety. I sure hope none of the buyers (or renters)in the grey building suffer from seasonal affective disorder, because the depression would surely kick in within a week of moving into that place. Maybe the seller will be nice enough to provide a lightbox at closing because the narrow windows don’t cut it.