07 June 2007

Gehry to Design Sharp New Jagged Metal Edged Playground in NYC













Zany architect Frank Gehry, renowned for his daring and whimsical urban designs, will create his first playground -- at the historic Battery public park in Lower Manhattan.

And truly what goes together better than titanium panels and razor-sharp edges than hundreds of little people engaging in running, skipping, falling and playing? Answer: Nothing!

Has a scientific study ever been done to prove that young rich kids lack the basic motor skills that normal kids have? Because, its 100% true.

I mean hey, it's TriBeCa, the land where parents barely even notice as their kids skid across their loft's whitewashed hardwood floors and slam into the Mies Van Der Rohe daybed with a sickening impish thud before returning to peruse the latest issue of Architectural Digest.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

He only uses those materials to convey his ideas. Do you honestly believe that a world-famous architect would build a playground that was NOT kid-friendly???

I believe that those who automatically assume others as idiots are in reality expressing what they are.

Unknown said...

I have to agree with your assessment of this rather cruel monstrosity. Not only is it bad Feng Shui, and harmful to the kiddies, but it also reminds at least me of the jangled metal remains of 9/11. But alas, that might have been his message. Danger! Do not come here!

As one who WAS there on 9/11, I want to express my objection. I do, however, enjoy Gehry's playful creativity, and wish he would bring one of his creations to Charlotte.

Anonymous said...

I think 'mrwondrous' that if you see it as remains then you gotta move on. In his way it may be a tribute and showing that life does go on. Frank Gehry is amazing. Yes, sharp edges wont be wise, but it wont happen like that. No designer would put sharp edges in a playground. What you see will be an initial idea, but will be adjusted. I am a designer myself and can spot that.

Anonymous said...

to Anonymous: Frank Gehry specifically goes against the laws of architecture in an attempt to be "artistic." Some may praise his efforts, but I believe that if he wants to promote this type of artistry, he should use a different medium. Masses of twisted metal, although mildly intruiguing, have no place in the context of livable, usable space. Just check out the articles about how MIT is suing him because the building they paid so much for is falling apart, or how he has been forced to build interior stable and architecturally sound structures to meet safety requirements, or how in one conference hall he designed, people who enter it get physically ill because he specifically designed it with unresolved vanishing points. If this "world famous architect" can't even design a building where adults don't throw up, I would seriously doubt he has extensive knowledge about what is safe for children.

Anonymous said...

are you kidding? just a picture of gehry's work is awe and art inspiring...very few in our society have this kind of creative vision or realization, especially people building playgrounds for kids. McDonald's used to have apple-pie trees and climb-through burgers that a parent could enjoy with their kids and on which kids could use their imagination. Now virtually all playgrounds look alike and are built of the same materials. Kids deserve better!!!

Anonymous said...

You might check out Mike Davis's City of Quartz and his analysis of Gehry's "vision" in LA. Mostly it consisted of "stealth houses" with crappy exteriors (in Gehry's words, "introverted and fortress-like" and like "a dumb box") that masked sumptuous interiors. It's a very privatized view of the purpose of the city--as in, 'as long as I can live in luxury, screw my neighbors; I have no desire to be part of a community'--that seems to me to be echoed faintly in this design--as in, 'as long as it looks pretty, who cares if it's functional?'

Anonymous said...

i think that he is not making a very safe playground area for kiddies. its a beautiful disgrace, i think instead of sharp edges he should round them off

Anonymous said...

I LOVE SLEEPIN :D

Anonymous said...

hiya nicola ....hows u ?
Wbb xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Anonymous said...

The nicknam for the dancing house is Fred and Ginger.It's resemblance to two dancers or the drunken house for it's unruly shape
Wbbxxxx
LOL

Anonymous said...

yes i agree....butthe matter in hand is this astonishment of a "kiddies playground".....the building is asthetically nice but is it enviromentally friendly ? most likley yes...
i do enjoy his delectable work but this one is just not up to the standards i would have expected from him...i would love this arcitectual wonder if it for safe for the young ones, or for anyone in this matter....



nicola rules lol xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wbb

Anonymous said...

yes i agree with that statement. The weird thing is that i love his design but no way in hell would i live in one as it may be unsteady and i am sure am nae getting him to design ma hoose

Anonymous said...

aye i agree ma we lassy...its a bluddy constrovisy this fukin buildin.....i would haul him over ma leg n spank him on the ass !!!

Anonymous said...

aye i agree ma we lassy...its a bluddy constrovisy this fukin buildin.....i would haul him over ma leg n spank him on the ass !!!

Anonymous said...

I can't believe that a world famous architect would actually build a playground that was not kiddie friendly. I think a playground is part of growing up and that it should be fun and that parents should have no worries,where as this playground is a hazard to children.!!!!

Anonymous said...

This is a monstrosity.!!!!
He is a great designer but has screwed this up big time.

Anonymous said...

I wonder how such a successful architect can be critised to this point. Some of you are probably not even architects yourselves. Sharp edges are a irrelevant argument as the edges of the building would not be within human reach. Look at the scale of the building.
People will continue to dismiss Frank Gehry's work because they cannot open their minds. The earth is not flat so why should architecture be? Also this park has been designed in rememberence of the people who died in 9/11 so if it looks like a building mess to you so be it. I challenge you all who crtise his work to go out and design something that will be publicly recognised like Frank does.

Clinton
Architect

Anonymous said...

just for your information, Frank Gehry does not do urban design projects, he does object buildings. The key difference is that urban design looks are the surrounding context and take it into consideration while design, after an in depth analysis. Object buildings are just that, a building, one object.

Anonymous said...

I love how an individual can throw a bunch of crap around and have idiots scratching their heads with awe. They play you like a bunch of marionettes. Warhol did it too and honestly it is garbage. Gehry literally wads up pieces of paper and tapes them together with his "assistant" and calls it a building. He doesn't have one artistic bone in his body and to hear him speak it is apparent. I like abstract, avante garde anything but to look at his work there is an obvious lack of real thought or planning. Watch the documentary and if you don't see the same then you yourself are not artistic.