I think the Blade theme might be a reference to Reading's claim to fame as the stabbing capital of the UK.
I've only seen this from the train, admittedly, so I might be missing something about the subtle relationship the building has with the public realm. But I doubt it.
Here's the back:
I hate it when towns get shat on by a terrible commercial architect from London selling some inane, poncey form and calling it design. This is not architecture, it's bad branding crossed with floorplate.
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That fin looks sharp.
ReplyDeleteIf that was in my town, I'd be tempted to be the first person to commit suicide by jumping ONTO a building rather than off it.
This is fine art compared to what I see every day in Bucharest -- the capital of bad architecture. If you want to see how the lunatics have taken over the asylum come to Bucharest and gaze upwards (but don't forget the sick bag). They should oblige all architecture students to visit Bucharest to see how "modern" architecture can destroy a city once known as the "Paris of the East"; surely they would learn more than being shown Venice, Prague and Italy. Contact me on wolfemurray (at) gmail.com if you want graphic evidence of this ghastly truth. Rupert Wolfe Murray
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! You couldn't have picked a better example. Been going to Oxford on the train for around 2 years to site looking at this thing from the window.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that's more shocking is the Tesco sponsored housing with the blue curvy roofs!
I'm sure that the building will be further enhanced by the additon of a carefully placed and illuminated logo below both sides of the blade
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the naked emperor who paid for this ever stopped and thought, "Why bother?"
ReplyDeleteI bet the architect reckons they did pretty bloody good. An artist. A genius. Splendid. The trick is to sell your vision as a creative and technical inspiration, even though it's not.
In the 1970's I wanted to be an Architect when I left school. I wasn't clever enough, couldn't manage the Highers so went to a firm in Glasgow who offered me a job as an Architectural Technician. When I asked him if there was any chance I could ever qualify as an Architect he told me I would only get one chance and if I didn't make it I could never apply again.
ReplyDeleteI think that lying, fucking cocksucker saved me from a fate worse than death as he probably designed everything on this site.
I joined the Police instead hoping to meet him in the street one day, at least they didn't mock my Neanderthal intelligence, in fact they quite welcomed it.
Never did meet the wanker though.
PS should 'fucking cocksucker' have a comma or is it considered grammatically to be an expression?
that could be a bad building for Uk standars, i just dont know. never the less, forget about Bucharest. For a real lesson on filthy cancerous architecture try any Spanish city or town.
ReplyDeletejulen
basque country
Hey Love your blog.
ReplyDeleteYou might like this one too - it's called:
DE$IGNCUNT$
http://designcunts.tumblr.com/
That silly quiff reminds me of TinTin.
ReplyDeleteSorry but I actually quite like it. Maybe I have a small penis.
ReplyDeleteI think the architect aimed for a sophisticated design with a smooth curvilinear finish on the horizontal axis of the building. The view from the corner show's the sharp edge of the 'blade' and its striking. But, the view from the longitudinal side looks like an ice-skating shoe!!! Not a good move at all!
ReplyDeleteI think the architect aimed for a sophisticated design with a smooth curvilinear finish on the horizontal axis of the building. The view from the corner show's the sharp edge of the 'blade' and its striking. But, the view from the longitudinal side looks like an ice-skating shoe!!! Not a good move at all!
ReplyDeleteYes i agree with you
ReplyDeletebut architecture is not simple job.
I walk past this each working day.
ReplyDeleteIt is tempting to point out how The Blade is out of keeping with its surroundings-Reading Abbey (ruins of) and Forbury Square are close by.
But, to be honest, the area is full of commercial buildings that are witless pastiches of the International style, with bits of po-mo thrown in. And they are mostly empty.
So really, The Blade is entirely sympathetic to its rubbish surroundings. And it gives me a free sneer on the way to work.
As an architect, it's important to remember that whilst we have *a lot* of say in what we create, we don't have the final say. I'm not defending Sheppard Robson - I bet this one isn't on the front cover of any of their brochures etc.
ReplyDeleteI also happen to live in Reading. This building is abominable from every angle. The consideration of context is really important in design, but it seems if you're a big swinging dick like SR or their client, you can get away with putting what you like where you like.
Reading Borough Council have a history of TERRIBLE planning decisions - they wanted iconic and they got it, but for all the wrong reasons!
I think the architect designed this doodling during a boring telephone conversation. "The best ideas come when your not even thinking"...yeah right. The fin makes no sense whatsoever, why is it there? It adds nothing to the building.
ReplyDeleteI wish we had more architecture in the United States. Seems like all the buildings going up lately are just tall cubes.
ReplyDeleteThe building looks awesome. You have no taste. Good day, sir! I said good day, sir!
ReplyDeletelove your work - please keep going
ReplyDeleteQuite spectacularly awful. The saddest thing about this blog is the the fact that we all know most of our cities are full of such dreadful buildings; immediate examples spring to mind in Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool, (obviously) London, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Manchester,... just everywhere. Planning departments ignore these corporate monstrosities but prevent some people building as much as new porch on their house. Somehow I feel there is a very odd set of priorities at play here.
ReplyDeleteMy cousin recommended this blog and she was totally right keep up the fantastic work!
ReplyDeleteArchitecture
It seems to me that architecture was developed to make our life better blighting it up with all its beauty. therefore, such examples are really pitiful. When I was a student I had an opportunity to appreciate architecture to much higher extent in
ReplyDeleteuniversity libraries.
It's look like just real blade...
ReplyDeletewww.revitdrafting.com
I find the whole design quite amusing, in that, it reminds me of some one strutting pretending to be a man shark. Enough said? Norfolk Architects
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