In this week's comments update, readers give their verdict on the long-awaited V&A Dundee museum, designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
Cliffhanger: Kengo Kuma's £80 million V&A Dundee museum opened last week. Readers have some choice words for the Japanese architect behind the design, intended to evoke the dramatic cliffs of Scotland's coastline.
"This is what happens when you start with a stupid idea and persevere with it – it looks nothing like a cliff face, even conceptually, and, cliff faces are not contextual to Dundee," moaned Clichy.
"Kuma is a master of archi-bunkum, it's just laughable the idea got this far, I pity the people of Dundee," agreed an exasperated JB.
Alfred Hitchcock felt let down by the musuem's interiors: "Very disappointing inside, given the hype."
However, Leggat leap to the defence of the project: "I have to say, despite the negativity from some, this is a welcome addition to Dundee and a lot of locals are very proud of it. Dundee has very, very little in the way of prominent architecture and there is a lot of hope that a project like this could bring people and jobs to the city."
The exterior of the building brought music to one reader's ears, in a sense:
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No good deed: readers were split after architect Renzo Piano confirmed he would be designing the replacement for the collapsed Ponte Morandi bridge in his hometown Genoa, with some praising his generosity, while others questioned his motives.
"The only decent architect lately," sighed None.
"Wait what?! Don't hate on Renzo for wanting to help out his hometown! Of course, it's a gift. Maybe 'everyone would do the same thing' in theory, but only someone of his stature and professional financial security could afford to actually donate not just his own time, but the time for his required staff for the length of the project," retorted a defensive HeywoodFloyd.
This reader also had a cynical response to Piano's take on the project:
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Back in black: readers reacted to an L-shaped black residence in Connecticut recently completed by New York firm Deborah Berke Partners this week, which recieved mixed reviews in the comments section.
"Really handsome residence. Reminds me of Stephane Beel's early houses. Deborah Berke is a genuine powerhouse," wrote an impressed Sorperdida.
JB was less sold on the project: "I'm failing to see what this brings to the evolution of modernism or put another way, we've seen this many times before haven't we?"
Duckusucker was also struggling to praise the design of the house: "Now, a house like this isn't horrible, nor is the experience of spending a few days in it likely to be irritating, but is it noteworthy? Is there one surprise or original thought?"
The house cast one reader's mind towards a different well-known design in black:
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Curve ball: some readers were left scratching their heads after seeing UNStudio's concept for a series of adaptable and modular stations for a potential Hyperloop across Europe, which would feature curved platforms.
"Ah, so the future is going to be curved instead of straight. Nice to know. The question is then, will there be more or less hype in the years to come?" asked a nonplussed Obesa Adipose.
DT was also left confused by the concept: "Please someone enlighten me. How does the speed of the Hyperloop vehicles make platforms curved? Does it matter if it's fast or not? Or is this just UNStudio's misleading narrative?"
Davide tried to understand the studio's thinking: "I might be mistaken but this design seems exactly as adaptable and modular as any other classic linear platform layout. I don't see the advantage, apart from UNStudio's apparent attraction to triangle and diamond shapes."
One reader was still looking for answers.
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