http://archrecord.construction.com/news/daily/archives/090625erickson.asp

I’ve always wondered who designed city hall.
It’s been a bit of a design month for me, as one of my fav’s (the Guggenheim) is up for a birthday, and she’s getting some ink in the NYT regarding her designer, and another structure he did that did not fare as well through the ages… (Kiel, you may have even brought this to my attention in a general post.)

My cousin, who is an ironworker, spent a lot of time on City Hall, it has that pinnion of reference for me, beyond that? I have not really gone that deep into it, mentally, and I appreciate your writing on this designer.

But back to ‘daring.’
–In a way?
there is the idea of ‘dealing with someone and speaking to them, treating them in a way (that) even IF they do not act ‘that way?’
-you address them THAT way, nonetheless, hoping they rise to the occasion, and form ‘up.’
(it’s an old technique that a lot of friends who are proffs, instructors, and mentors do in shaping their students.)
It Can work spectacularly… though not always.

I think of that and then I think of ‘why’ Fresno chose this building.
-Was it just needing ’something new’ and ‘controversial,’ and attention seeking? (don’t know.) -would like to think not.

But if it was an attempt to ‘reverse’ or shape ‘up’ a mindset
‘…We’re going to have this astonishng structure, and it’s going to change things…’
(not unlike, say the Sydney Opera House, (or) the Guggenheim.)

–I find how ‘that’ went (socially) to be far more intreaguing and far more ‘telling.’
(Not far from the building?
another administrative structure called ‘the Chicken Coup.’ semi-admiringly by those directing anyone towards it. City hall is usually called ‘the space-ship.’)

In terms of getting it built? success.
(and my cousin does excellent work.)

In terms of initiatng dialogue ‘what do YOU think of this thing…’
–yeah, also a success, and it’s art and design that succeeds in being controversial and gets conversations ’started.’
-in a way. –but that’s only a fuse.

In terms of changing the mindset of the people?
It may be too soon to tell,
(I don’t know when City Hall was completed,)
–but,
based upon how the town has effectively ‘moved away from itself,’ –and (unlike the Sydney Opera House, or Guggenheim)
people do NOT seem to enjoy living in it’s shadow, (nor) see it as a bit of a quirky, eccentric, yet VERY much loved aunt (Guggenheim,)
–I wonder if it (Fresno and City Hall ) has failed.

-Not the building.. the Building is a success, it does it’s job and it sort of squats there, downtown, trying to engage in conversation…
–but like so many other things that squat downtown, trying to engage in conversation…
it’s largely avoided, and honestly, kind of rejected.
–I see this as no baring on the Building itself.

I sincerely hope, (if/when) Fresno decides to embrace it’s downtown and not just ‘go there when it has to work or pay a PG&E bill’
-it will actually engage in dialouge with this poor structure…
As it will not ‘age’ like a person?
-and as it sits static?
It’s not going to get tired, get sick, or just wander off into it’s own delusions…
It’s made of steel and concrete and is obviously not going anywhere.

You just kind of wish that it’s ‘bold, controversial statement, desire for dialogue, seeking to get others to ’see’ and ‘think’ and ‘embrace’ ‘new and different’ things’ (how Canadian)
–was answered with some sort of (any sort of) intelligent response,
and not simply abandoned and referenced to from across the room, in barely comprehendng beer-breath, and belches…

She’s a strange girl,
but a beautiful one, (regardless,)
-and doesn’t deserve to be sitting there on the far side of the floor staring at her shoes, (her only companion called ‘the chicken coupe’ too far to dance with.)

good post.