My Pixie Blog

Context: New Nets Arena

In continuing the trend to build stadiums for mass amounts of revenue, Frank Gehry has jumped onto the bandwagon. To be located in downtown Brooklyn, his master plan will be an enormous 21-acre zone of commercial and residential development that will open eyes for the least. Gehry is bringing his Californian de-constructivist style to the constructivist hodgepodge of New York. His usual "crushed paper" buildings will be placed adjacent to the brownstones and mid-rise buildings of what we all know is Brooklyn.

Therefore, the looming question (one of many) of context is shadowing this project. My brother and I adore the quote "smart people can fit the square in the square hole and the cylinder in the circular hole, but geniuses know that all the shapes fit in the star hole". Is Gehry fitting all his shapes in a star hole? I don't believe he is. The plan is nice, and I do think the stadium can find a nice niche where it is proposed next to the train station. Yet, his forms and wariness to make buildings that work will cause big problems for the area.

Yet, if I know Gehry (and i dont), I think he has some solutions for all of these problems. Such as: If he is planning to use his famed pillowed titanium facade, there will be rooftop beaches surrounding his site,to make use of the glare. The buildings will have drains running from the inevitable cracks in his roofs, to the streets creating a free waterpark for all to enjoy. All of his grand spaces will become much needed classrooms during the day, for the overcrowding schools. Because they're designer buildings which cost a fortune to make, rent will be too much for the people losing their homes to return. The large snow buildup on the roofs which will fall on pedestrians, will provide tiny hills for sledding and other outdoor snow activities.

Im pretty sure any shape can fit into the Los Angeles landscape, but in New York its pretty much the cube.

posted by Anonymous @ 12:27 PM