Go XL: One on One

[ainttelling]

Concrete Stereo is one of the few posters who've been using comments to make valid points. I will address the ones I disagree with.

Originally Posted by Concrete Stereo (on March 14, 2010 16:51:43)

Very difficult. Hagia Sophia is imperfect, but dates from 536, has been church, mosk and is now museum, has been the blueprint for all great ottoman mosks, shows the marks several heavy earthquakes, and is for many reasons one of the most impressive buildings I ever saw. Taj Mahal is more perfect, but much more youngh (1648) and has had far less impact in history. Hagia Sophia it is.

Hagia Sophia predates Taj Mahal by a 1000 years, but does it make it superior? Africans have only now gotten the chance to excel in architecture internationally but it doesn't mean that African culture is of lesser value.

Originally Posted by Concrete Stereo (on March 6, 2010 18:23:33)

of course Moscow State University! With all respect, Moscow is the example, Warsaw is the copy...

All Stalinist skyscrapers share some similarities. A major difference of the Palace of Culture and Science is the round podium.

Originally Posted by Concrete Stereo (on May 6, 2010 03:45:06)

The render is a bit bad. But UK, obviously. China Pavilion lacks elegance.

The Chinese pavilion manipulates perception of form and space. Elegance is not a part of the algorithm. The concept of the UK pavilion has been overused in the past several years. Modern interpretation of traditional East Asian aesthetics, on the other hand, continues to be a good choice for many quality projects.






































PS: HA-HA! I OWNED YOU!!!

[Concrete Stereo]

Originally Posted by ainttelling

Concrete Stereo is one of the few posters who've been using comments to make valid points. I will address the ones I disagree with.

Opinions are something personal. I can clarify mine.

Hagia Sophia predates Taj Mahal by a 1000 years, but does it make it superior? Africans have only now gotten the chance to excel in architecture internationally but it doesn't mean that African culture is of lesser value.

The Hagia Sophia not only is a great building, it has aquired great meaning by history - more than any other building I have seen. For me, the greatest beauty of Hagia Sophia lies in the way it has absorbed that history. It carries the scars (and jewels) of ages, earthquakes, two faiths, secularism; the history of Istanbul, Turkey and Europe. Byzantine cathedral, typological father of Ottoman architecture and monument of secularism, at the same time.

To me the scarred and burdened building is superior to the similar Sultanahmet Mosk, which is a perfect but one-dimensional monument. For the same reason, to me, it's a more rich building than the Taj Mahal.

All Stalinist skyscrapers share some similarities. A major difference of the Palace of Culture and Science is the round podium.

In terms of form there isn't a significant inequality. But in terms of meaning there is. The competition for the 7 sisters probaly is the most important moment in the architectural history of the Soviet Union. It meant the end of structuralism and defined the architectural (and artistic) dogma that eventually created the Warshaw skyscraper.

The Chinese pavilion manipulates perception of form and space. Elegance is not a part of the algorithm. The concept of the UK pavilion has been overused in the past several years. Modern interpretation of traditional East Asian aesthetics, on the other hand, continues to be a good choice for many quality projects.

I do appreciate it as a attempt to re-interpretate the traditional aestetics. But I just feel it is not really well done, I'm sorry. The brutalist formalism of the Bratislava Radio Building conflicts with the delicate details of the characters at the end of the beam. I find it schizophrenic.

PS: HA-HA! I OWNED YOU!!!

[ainttelling]

Originally Posted by Concrete Stereo

The Hagia Sophia not only is a great building, it has aquired great meaning by history - more than any other building I have seen. For me, the greatest beauty of Hagia Sophia lies in the way it has absorbed that history. It carries the scars (and jewels) of ages, earthquakes, two faiths, secularism; the history of Istanbul, Turkey and Europe. Byzantine cathedral, typological father of Ottoman architecture and monument of secularism, at the same time. To me the scarred and burdened building is superior to the similar Sultanahmet Mosk, which is a perfect but one-dimensional monument. For the same reason, to me, it's a more rich building than the Taj Mahal.

If we're talking about conceptual beauty, then Taj has a nice story behind it - a love story. Human feelings, you know.

Originally Posted by Concrete Stereo

It meant the end of structuralism and defined the architectural (and artistic) dogma that eventually created the Warshaw skyscraper.

That was defined in the 1930's. The architects of the Palace of Soviets even worked on the early stages of the MSU.

Originally Posted by Concrete Stereo

I do appreciate it as a attempt to re-interpretate the traditional aestetics. But I just feel it is not really well done, I'm sorry.

You don't have to apologize for expressing your opinion. ^_^

Originally Posted by Concrete Stereo

Welcome to the internet.

PS: If modern architecture needs "education" to be appreciated - that's not education, that's brainwashing.

[Concrete Stereo]

Originally Posted by ainttelling

If we're talking about conceptual beauty, then Taj has a nice story behind it - a love story. Human feelings, you know.

Sure, nothing wrong with the Taj Mahal. It's pretty and all. Very monumental, too.

That was defined in the 1930's. The architects of the Palace of Soviets even worked on the early stages of the MSU.

True

Welcome to the internet.

Why make a fool of yourself. Are you so proud to dare to disagree?

PS: If modern architecture needs "education" to be appreciated - that's not education, that's brainwashing.

It doesn't.

[ainttelling]

Originally Posted by Concrete Stereo

Why make a fool of yourself. Are you so proud to dare to disagree?

Damn straight. Hence the picture of a retarded kid.

[Jan]

Guys, I need suggestions, not bickering. Thanks.

[ainttelling]

Originally Posted by Jan

Guys, I need suggestions, not bickering. Thanks.

India vs. China:

image hosted on flickr


Picture Page | Jon Connell | Flickr

image hosted on flickr


Picture Page | Rob Davison | Flickr

Or a three days battle royale with more than 2 options.

[**RS**]

Commerzbank Zentrale (259 m) - EU tallest vs City of Capitals (302 m) - Russia tallest

[La Repuvlica]

Originally Posted by Jan

Guys, I need suggestions, not bickering. Thanks.

Kazuyo Sejima vs. Zaha Hadid
Neoclasism vs. Neogothic
Allianz Arena, Munich vs. Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburgo
Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família vs. St. Peter's Basilica
Imam Reza Shrine vs. Mecca
Eurotunnel vs. Panama Canal
Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2010 Jean Nouvel vs Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2009 SANAA

[Concrete Stereo]

The high line (NY) vs Promenade Plantée (Paris)

[Concrete Stereo]

Louvre vs Hermitage

[Concrete Stereo]

David by Michelangelo


vs

Venus de Milo





Berlin in the eyes of Hitler


vs

Moscow in the eyes of Stalin

[ainttelling]

Baba Vanga vs Nostradamus?

[christos-greece]

What is going on latelly on XL page one on one? From Sunday the photos there are

[g-n-r]

edit

[Junk]

I don't know if something like that has already been done but maybe Moses Mabhida stadium vs. Wembley stadium would be a good idea.

[christos-greece]

The idea is good; i changed a little: old wembley stadium (before the recostruction) vs new wembley stadium. What do you think?

[Norkey]

Also Prague Nightlife vs London Nighlife would be good..

edit: Or: Virtual world vs Virtual world:
Chernarus vs Takistan!

[Le Bruxellois]

Originally Posted by g-n-r

Building vs building : ONU Headquarters vs UE Headquarters

Brussels UE Parliament Building (Bâtiment Paul-Henri Spaak) vs Strasbourg UE Parliament Building (Bâtiment Louise Weiss)


...


Atomium (Brussels) vs Gateway Arch (St. Louis)

[Jan]

One on One will be back this week. New suggestions welcome!