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What do I think of current design? And I mean this in regards to technology and the new cities built on cities. In a few simple words: I find it distasteful. And my ability to explain it as such is the epitome of what it lacks—simplicity. Everything changes at an exponential rate. In making life more “simple” or easier for the user we are inherently, and ironically, doing the complete opposite. Wouldn’t it be simpler to light a fire with a match or walk up to a person and talk to them? Not anymore. We are estranged from our environment and with each other in an attempt to communicate better. I was born in 1990 and long gone are VCRs and cassette players. Hello, Blu Ray. I don’t really know you that well. If the world were blown to pieces could each of us individually reconstruct the technologies we had before? A camera, a car, a coffee maker? Probably not. Not simple. The common middle-class citizen has no idea what’s inside an ipod. I would much rather live in a hut made of leather hide if it meant that I had a better relationship with the people around me. Intense current design in the information age has created a strange preoccupation causing the loss of “real” information, in regards to knowledge of raw emotion and tangible interactions. Apparently, the Devil has evolved from a serpent to a high-definition LCD screen.
I read an article about this new condo building that they want to build on University avenue, replacing an historical building. It is quite sad to know that they got the approval to demolish a building which adds to the cachet of University Avenue by its historical architecture. The city of Toronto has a North American modern style but it is nice to see older buildings especially in this typical area. It gives some interest and some variety. The condo building is supposed to be 42-storey so it is going to be an important change on the sky-line along this street. However, one of the goal of this building is to have only few parking spots in order to discourage people for having a car. So we could say that it tries to be environmentally friendly. I wonder sometimes if we try hard enough to combine all the elements that are going to create a great design that respects the environment and the location it is in. The good thing is that they want to keep the facade of the old building in front of the condo building. But I do think that this street is well known for its old building and should avoid being threaten by modern constructions that erase the historical aspects of this place. I wish we could encourage more environmentally friendly buildings of course, but not if it disrespects the history that carries a building like the one on University.
What do I think of current design?
ReplyDeleteAnd I mean this in regards to technology and the new cities built on cities.
In a few simple words: I find it distasteful.
And my ability to explain it as such is the epitome of what it lacks—simplicity.
Everything changes at an exponential rate. In making life more “simple” or easier for the user we are inherently, and ironically, doing the complete opposite.
Wouldn’t it be simpler to light a fire with a match or walk up to a person and talk to them?
Not anymore.
We are estranged from our environment and with each other in an attempt to communicate better.
I was born in 1990 and long gone are VCRs and cassette players.
Hello, Blu Ray. I don’t really know you that well.
If the world were blown to pieces could each of us individually reconstruct the technologies we had before? A camera, a car, a coffee maker?
Probably not. Not simple. The common middle-class citizen has no idea what’s inside an ipod.
I would much rather live in a hut made of leather hide if it meant that I had a better relationship with the people around me.
Intense current design in the information age has created a strange preoccupation causing the loss of “real” information, in regards to knowledge of raw emotion and tangible interactions. Apparently, the Devil has evolved from a serpent to a high-definition LCD screen.
I read an article about this new condo building that they want to build on University avenue, replacing an historical building. It is quite sad to know that they got the approval to demolish a building which adds to the cachet of University Avenue by its historical architecture. The city of Toronto has a North American modern style but it is nice to see older buildings especially in this typical area. It gives some interest and some variety. The condo building is supposed to be 42-storey so it is going to be an important change on the sky-line along this street.
ReplyDeleteHowever, one of the goal of this building is to have only few parking spots in order to discourage people for having a car. So we could say that it tries to be environmentally friendly.
I wonder sometimes if we try hard enough to combine all the elements that are going to create a great design that respects the environment and the location it is in.
The good thing is that they want to keep the facade of the old building in front of the condo building. But I do think that this street is well known for its old building and should avoid being threaten by modern constructions that erase the historical aspects of this place.
I wish we could encourage more environmentally friendly buildings of course, but not if it disrespects the history that carries a building like the one on University.