Does this look like an eyesore to you? Well it does to VirtualTourism.com as they announced their annual list of the “World’s Top 10 Ugly Buildings” list today putting the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal of Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum at No. 8.
Because they are such authorities on architecture right.
They say that although “many praise the glass structure, just as many are troubled by the incongruity to the original, more traditional museum that still sits directly beside it.”
The editors of the website say, “Many of these buildings don’t have the warmth of an ice cube while others don’t even seem completed,” Giampiero Ambrosi, general manager of VirtualTourist.com, said in a statement. “Either way, they make for very interesting conversation.”
What innane commentary. The ROM Crystal doesnt look ugly at all to us. In fact, it looks like a fine example of an intricate piece architecture that adds to the diversity of the city! We wonder what these other supposed ‘ugly’ buildings look like.
Other ‘ugly’ buildings that made the list were:
1. Morris A. Mechanic Theater, Baltimore, Md.
2. Zizkov Television Tower; Prague.
3. The Beehive, Wellington, New Zealand.
4. Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris.
5. Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia.
6. Petrobras headquarters, Rio de Janeiro.
7. Markel Building, Richmond, Va.
8. Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto.
9. National Library, Pristina; Kosovo.
10. Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang
Although we agree that some of these look…odd, like the Markel Building which seems to resemble Fred Flintstone’s humble abode, we cant say that these are ugly. Architecture is as much a part of the art world as fashion is and art is unpredictable and ever-changing.
Do you agree with VirtualTourism.ca’s choices?
rêve.critique.couture 