• Print
  • August 10th, 2006
  • 2 Comments »
  • Design

Dud on arrival: why important buildings flop (Slate)

Slate has a nice slide show by the famed architecture critic Witold_Rybczynski about major works of architecture that were big failures. It’s a good runthrough of some large scale works, with Cliff’s notes like commentary from Rybczynski on where things went wrong.

I don’t agree with his opinions on some (I’ve been to half of them): EMP is ugly, but still breathtaking. The Montreal stadium is a functional failure, but has amazing aesthetics, and the Getty museum rocks a free escape from the USA, a magic otherworldly garden up on a huge hill, looking down on LA.

I wonder what a slide show of greatest software duds might include? And what would we say about each one?


Leave a Comment / What do you think?

Your email is never published nor shared (comments policy).

2 Responses

  • Spamouflage - August 10, 2006 at 8:19 pm #
  • I lived in Montreal for a few years and I would go to the Olympic Stadium at least once a year. I couldn’t help it, the building had a draw, a presence that screamed former glory.


  • Scott (admin) - August 10, 2006 at 11:24 pm #
  • Yes – I mean I was in Montreal once, when I was 14, and I *still* remember seeing the stadium. How can it be a flop if it left that much of an impression on an idiot teenager with zero interest in architecture?


Scott's Bestselling Books
  • Confessions of a
    Public Speaker
  • Provocative and funny secrets from a veteran speaker, you'll laugh as you learn.
  • Buy now at Amazon Book Details
  • The Myths of Innovation
  • The classic bestseller on how amazing lessons from the past can help you innovate today.
  • Buy now at Amazon Book Details
  • Making Things Happen
  • The classic and bestselling handbook for any project leader, packed with tactics and stories.
  • Buy now at Amazon Book Details
Photos from Recent Events (view flickr stream)

You're reading Scott Berkun, All rights reserved unless noted. You can subscribe here Blog RSS Comments (RSS)