Boxes

Joe, of Joe. My. God. , mentioned in a recent blog post that a topic du jour in the New York architect scene is the demolition of 2 Columbus Circle.

I admit that when I was a young lad this building confused me. As a child I had fawned over the Chrysler building and the Empire State building. Although unpopular because of their ultra modernistic minimalism, the Twin Towers of the World Trade center consumed my gaze as I would journey on the ferry from Staten Island to Manhattan. 2 Columbus Circle however remained an enigma. Joe, on his blog even mentioned that he thought it was an air shaft for the subway. I admit as a child that I had the same sentiment. It was just another old building on my way to the Lincoln Center for the annual Mostly Mozart festival.

Now that there is a debate as to whether or not this building should be renovated to give way to a new modern building, my ambiguity has faded. If this building is to be renovated so that another uninspiring glass rectangle is to go up in its place I say let it stand. Let it stand as a reminder that at point in time our nation was a place where progressive architecture was encouraged and appreciated. Its no Chrysler building but its sure better than most of the spartan, glass blocks going up in New York and far better than the planned development for the Ratner development in Brooklyn designed by the overexposed Frank Gehry; a jumble of buildings meant to look like they are falling. Very tasteful given the context of 9/11.


The last thing that needs to happen in New York is the deconstruction or original architecture when around the world unique and height defying skyscrapers are being erected. Although the New York skyline is iconic it is bordering on becoming antiquated by competition from cities like Hong Kong and Beijing. Its embarrassing that the city that gave birth to the grandiloquent skyscraper is now being populated by muddled or featureless boxes whilst modifying the structures that make it unique.