In this week's comments update, readers are debating Frank Gehry's housing development at Battersea Power Station in London and discussing other top stories.

Pritzker Architecture Award-winning architect Frank Gehry has completed a housing development at Battersea Power Station in London.

Prospect Place is the first housing project realised by the Canadian-American architect in the UK and contains two buildings with a total of over 300 homes.

"What a unique facade"

Readers have given mixed responses. "This is a wonderful project by Frank Gehry," said B. "The multiplane geometry, curves and movement are all there but create a cohesive and functional whole. This is Frank's best work in quite some time and the best work in London for quite some time."

"What a unique facade!" added JVS. "It has so much texture and complexity. It's truly an ambitious project for such an ambitious development. Rather have this than a Foster-designed glass extrusion or some other box."

Tom felt differently: "I'm never convinced by the fenestration in any Gehry project, but here they look particularly cheap and 90s. Looks like someone tried to experiment but with the budget of social housing."

"Truly awful," concluded Alfred Hitchcock. "The entire new development around the power station is of shockingly bad design and poor quality. It started with Viñoly's terrible master plan and has gotten progressively worse."

Are you impressed by Gehry's housing project? Join the discussion ›

Reader calls Coop Himmelb(l)au's Falkestrasse rooftop "unforgettable"

Continuing our series reinvestigating deconstructivism, we published a story on one of the earliest completed deconstructivist buildings – Austrian studio Coop Himmelb(l)au's rooftop extension on Falkestrasse in Vienna. Commenters are divided.

"An unforgettable design," said Natoisencroaching, on one hand.

Marc Sicard replied: "I kinda like the Lebbeus Woods look of it. First time I've seen the interiors, though. I wish I hadn't because they're awful. I also wish Coop Himmelb(l)au stopped there because the rest of the studio's work is awful. What kinda worked in contrast to the classical building does not work alone."

"Ugly and complicated... what's not to like?" asked Salamoon.

Are readers being harsh? Join the discussion ›

Commenter thinks Taipei Performing Arts Center "was designed to get attention"

Readers are discussing Dutch studio OMA's long-awaited Taipei Performing Arts Center in Taiwan. The project has completed ahead of its official opening on 7 August 2022.

"Definitely designed to get attention," said Ken Steffes. "Good job if this was the goal."

+Human replied: "I think it's amazing that we live on a planet where stuff like this happens. Life-affirming acts of will, skill and creativity are all there in the building."

"It could be anything but a theatre," said a less keen Pa Varreon. "Why not the headquarters of a space travel company? Luxury boutique hotel? A university sports center? The big ball reminds me of a protuberant skin illness."

Does the Taipei Performing Arts Center deserve a round of applause? Join the discussion ›

Reader says "the stacked box concept has been done so many times before"

Commenters aren't sold on Sieger Suarez Architects and Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott's design for what aims to be the first supertall skyscraper in Miami. The new property is for hotel brand Waldorf Astoria.

"The stacked box concept has been done so many times before," said Stephen Cassidy.

"I thought we were moving past the super tall era," added Veronica Klucik. "What are the sustainability metrics and considerations? How are they addressing climate change and sea-level rise for Miami? Is there a demand for this much luxury housing in Miami?"

"This is the visual demonstration of a system that has no intention of changing the trajectory of humans' relationship with the planet," concluded JZ.

What do you think of the skyscraper? Join the discussion ›

Comments update

Dezeen is the world's most commented architecture and design magazine, receiving thousands of comments each month from readers. Keep up to date on the latest discussions on our comments page.