"What a self-centred bridge"

In this week's comments update, readers are debating whether The Twist art gallery by BIG is silly or sophisticated.

Over the top: readers are divided over The Twist art gallery by BIG, which twirls "like a deck of cards" and bridges the river dividing Kistefos sculpture park in Norway.

"It's maybe one of the best things BIG has done to date," praised Melon Design. "It's a building for a sculpture park that is itself an iconic piece of sculpture, and creates a better logic to the circulation of the park itself. Success. Well done."

"The twist is very elegant," added Patrick Kennedy.

Troles Steenholdt Heredal disagreed though: "What a self-centred bridge. It's like it doesn't even know that it's in a beautiful landscape."

"The architectural equivalent of a high concept movie," continued Heywood Floyd. "A blunt, unambiguous, easily marketable idea which its creators use to bludgeon the audience until they cannot remember the difference between nuance and clarity."

This reader was also unimpressed:

Do you think BIG aced this project? Join the discussion ›

Concrete argument: not everyone agrees with the experts and activists who, whilst attending the Architecture of Emergency climate summit in London, called upon architects to fight climate change by ditching concrete.

"Maybe architects should give up bricks as well," joked Vuillard.

"Maybe architects should give up breathing as well," responded Spadestick.

Doug Lough was confused: "So what is up then with the recent surge of concrete designer buildings and furniture? For the last 20 years concrete has been pushed as sustainable, now, this week it’s not? Is coffee good for you or not? I need another cup of coffee!"

"Me thinks the architects still have their blinders on," added Three Floating Orbs. "Cherry-picking data sets out of the larger context is not helpful. Any discussion of adaptive re-use, for example? Or how much of Europe, the US, etc. lost its great forests?"

This commenter thought more could have been achieved at the summit:

Is stopping the use of concrete a step in the right direction? Join the discussion ›

Hot off the press: news that travel agency Luxury Action is planning to place a group of heated glass igloos at the North Pole, has infuriated readers. The company claims that its guests are "the best messengers in order to spread word of how climate change affects our lives in the arctic."

"If you want to do something about global warming then stop offering carbon-emitting helicopter rides to the cleanest environments on Earth. Do what you're gonna do, but at least be truthful to your reasons (capitalism)," said Kogillz.

Alfred Hitchcock felt similarly: "Tourism at the North Pole is not the way to stop global warming. You don't needlessly fly around the world if you're serious about tackling the climate crisis."

"Glad to see disaster capitalism is now vying to grab every last dollar to be had in disaster tourism. Maybe they can set up glass tents in the Bahamas next?" suggested WYRIWYG.

Hah also had an idea: "Might I suggest moving these igloos to a patch of recently-melted Greenland ice if they want to play the climate-awareness card? Opening the curtains to a few starving polar bears should do the trick."

This reader made their feelings clear:

Do you agree with these commenters? Join the discussion ›

Old meets new: a contemporary metal and wood-clad extension on an old Georgian vicarage in Hampshire, England, has received mixed reviews.