Astor Place - Condo - East Village - by Gwathmey Siegel

**ablarc** · August 18th, 2005, 09:34 PM

It'll be even better without the scaffolding.

**redhot00** · August 18th, 2005, 11:05 PM

The Cube is called The Alamo and it had better return soon or else what will stoned East Village Hipsters unite and spin together? Spin the Black Cube, isn't that a Pearl Jam song?

I read somewhere that the artist thinks it's funny that his creation has earned a soft spot in the heart of young East Villagers

**sfenn1117** · August 19th, 2005, 10:53 AM

I just have to say Bravo on this tower. It looks fantastic.

**Alonzo-ny** · August 19th, 2005, 05:05 PM

I dont know why anyone likes this tower i think its horrid! I walk past it on the way home every day (for another week at least) and i think its really ugly

**ablarc** · August 20th, 2005, 09:32 AM

What's ugly about it, alonzo?

**NoyokA** · August 20th, 2005, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by alonzo-ny

I dont know why anyone likes this tower i think its horrid! I walk past it on the way home every day (for another week at least) and i think its really ugly

I dont walk past it but I think its horrid as well.

**Xemu** · August 20th, 2005, 04:29 PM

I want to know what retail is going in the bottom. Astor place could use one more Starbucks...

**NoyokA** · August 20th, 2005, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by Xemu

I want to know what retail is going in the bottom. Astor place could use one more Starbucks...

Nowhere could use more Starbucks IMO.

**ablarc** · August 21st, 2005, 10:13 PM

Several posts have condemned this building as horrid without saying why, even after a request for an explanation.

So I'll venture the opinion that it's really quite beautiful because it's shiny and undulating and blue; because it stands free as sculpture and provides vertical emphasis in an amorphous space comprised of compromised streetwalls; because it dares to be non-contextual and monumental and gets away with it, like the Guggenheim; and because it looks fresh and cheerful in generally gloomy surroundings, suggesting a more radiant future for its dour locale.

**lofter1** · August 21st, 2005, 11:03 PM

Well put, ablarc.

**Fabrizio** · August 22nd, 2005, 04:24 AM

"....suggesting a more radiant future for its dour locale".

I love dour.... when it´s done well. A "fresh and cheerful" East Village? Makes me want to cry...

This is one building I´m looking forward to seeing. A lot will depend on what happens down at the street level. The forms of the building ( at least seen from the photos) are growing on me...but that glittery reflective blue glass looks... I don´t know.... cheesy? Unsophisticated?

BTW: Ever notice how reflective glass buildings can look great when they´re tall skyscrapers, but when they´re small.... they have that office-park-in-New-Jersey-off-the-exit-ramp-look? That´s what´s happening here.

**Xemu** · August 22nd, 2005, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by Stern

Nowhere could use more Starbucks IMO.

A little joke Stern...

**ZippyTheChimp** · August 22nd, 2005, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Fabrizio

BTW: Ever notice how reflective glass buildings can look great when they´re tall skyscrapers, but when they´re small.... they have that office-park-in-New-Jersey-off-the-exit-ramp-look? That´s what´s happening here.

That's it. That's what bothers me. It reminds me of the seminars and conferences I had to go to in Garden City or Atlanta or Orlando.

However, I like the surprise element of its appearance as you turn a corner.