What Could Have Been: Civic Center Designs
By Silver Springer • Dec 8th, 2006 • Category: Uncategorized
Here are two of the designs that were entered into the Silver Spring Town Center competition.
And the winner, Machado & Silvetti Associates
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The proposals from the first two architects don’t seem to be displaying properly… at least on my computer.
OK, now it works. I like #1, personally.
Most would agree with you
The winning proposal looks like total rubbish. It’s like a cube with doors.
Way to go guys, really. Nice job. You’ve managed to back a horse that’s going to effectively dry up the nice look of the downtown area.
You guys sure do bitch a lot…
The winning firm sure appears to have a good track record. Here’s some more info:
http://www.machado-silvetti.com/projects/silver_spring/index.php
Isn’t that what blogging is all about? Otherwise, why would you read something that just made you happy all the time and reinforced every single belief you ever had.
Oh right, that’s what a lot of people think information dissemination is all about *sigh*.
How did they ever decide on a design that is the least attractive, most cemented and least green? Brick design with as much green as possible looks good to me! The good thing in the design chosen is the “portico” under which I presume concerts could be performed. That part is the best feature. Of course that means the performers have the southern sun in their eyes, but at least we spectators don’t! Remember the jazz fest?
The first is by far and away the best design architecturally although I doubt that the light beam concept would every fly (remember the Discovery building’s scrapped light beam tower?)…That said, the design chosen could have been A LOT worse…just look at number 2!
Wow… granted it’s just a rendering, but that design is ugly and boring. Like twoste else said, it’s basically just a big boring box. Can’t wait to see what that things going to be like in a decade or two. I guess that bad design fits with the whole outdoor, stucco mall theme we have going on. We’re doing a good job of laying the foundation for the next CityPlace mall of 2020.
I remember seeing a model of the first proposal on display at the School of Architecture at Maryland - the architect, Stephen Muse, was an alum. It’s a shame it wasn’t picked! Do you notice the apartment building in the background? That would be the Ellsworth, but if it took design cues from the Montgomery Arms apartments on Fenton Street.
I would just like to point out that the Grimm + Parker Architects proposal looks A LOT like the Pryzbyla Center at Catholic University.
http://publicaffairs.cua.edu/news/03BigEvents_files/image002.jpg
All I can say is that we can only hope for two things that will help the chosen design:
1. That the materials are interesting enough to somewhat make up for the absurdly minimalist design.
2. That the street trees are planted in abundance and they grow up and hide it.
The chosen design is AWFUL. For those of us not quite so tuned in to the minutiae of downtown development, whose decision was this? I assume that like everything else in this county, there’s now nothing to be done about it and public disapproval will be turned aside.
Grass. We could have had grass. That’s all I have to say.
From the design concepts presented, it seems that none of them are architecturally significant. For a community that prides itself so much on ‘community’, this is a shame and an economic mistake on behalf of the County and Folger Pratt who put money into it.
Civic buildings should inspire and evoke a sense of pride that result in greater economic vibrancy and sense of place. We will have to wait and see if this building is able to do that. If not, our community’s missed another great opportunity.
Although I agree that the chosen design is “bland”, “boring”, etc… don’t you think that a more “risque” design will just look all-that-more dated in a few years? I bet they thought that nasty glass piece of glass art/crap in Bethesda (next to Mongolian BBQ) was quite awesome a few years back…
I love the glass sculpture in front of Mongolian BBQ!
Anonymous said…
“Although I agree that the chosen design is “bland”, “boring”, etc… don’t you think that a more “risque” design will just look all-that-more dated in a few years? I bet they thought that nasty glass piece of glass art/crap in Bethesda (next to Mongolian BBQ) was quite awesome a few years back…”
12/11/2006 09:05:05 PM
The problem with the chosen design is that it looks dated before shovel is put in the ground. About 5 decades too late actually.
The problem with society is that we expect every building to last forever, yet we will not put forth the highest quality design and features when they are being planned.
I do not expect this Civic center to last more than 40yrs. The county is cutting corners with it as we speak so I hope no one plans to deem it historic because there will be nothing that sets it a part (in design at least) that is worth saving.
If it doesn’t inspire now, how will it inspire 10 years from now, 5 years from now?
For people who try and play the ‘financial reality’ game in these decisions, the rationale is incredibly wrong.
Architecture and furthermore building design in relation to context and environment is one of the most important economic development tools we’ve got. Recent studies have shown that the economic residual is significantly enhanced by better design.
Similar social studies are harder to come by. Perhaps the new leadership in our County government will take all of these things into consideration when determining how much money to allocate and exacting more support from private developers and their public amenity packages.
Alright, how about some examples? What civic centers that “have stood the test of time” can you guys name? I don’t think I can name a single good civic center. I don’t think I can name a civic center period. I can say I love the Getty Museum in LA or any Gaudi House in Barcelona, but come on… spend a lot on a civic center?
Also, “Recent studies have shown that the economic residual is significantly enhanced by better design.” References? Maybe Scientologists believe random quotes… I prefer to read the articles myself.
Not to change the subject, but does anyone know about the development planned for the NW corner of GA Ave & Cameron (currently the Sun Trust Bank building)?
Earlier today, I saw development review application signs along both fronts of this building indicating the applicant was seeking to develop(working from memory here)29,000 sf with a little over 100 residential units, retail and office space.
Do you think they are going to redevelop the bank building or tear it down? The existing building is quite attractive for early 60’s modern architecture.
“We said we wanted a Town Square, not a town square!!”
Responding to the person who asked for references r.e. the power of design and its economic impact:
I’m a member of ULI and have access to this page, hopefully the link will work for you:
http://www.uli.org/AM/Template.cfm?section=November15&template=/MembersOnly.cfm&ContentID=65057
FWIW: The ULI is a very well respected authority on Land Use issues.
http://uanews.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/UANews.woa/10/wa/MainStoryDetails?ArticleID=12092
For an article on The Bilbao effect:
http://www.forbes.com/2002/02/20/0220conn.html
For a civic building that has stood the test of time, 1957/Marin County/Frank Lloyd Wright:
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Marin_Civic_Center.html
Whoever wrote the comment obviously doesn’t think SS deserves the best, and isn’t aware of sound economic principles related to urban design and economics. I hope you’re not a leader, or decision maker. I hope our new leaders and decision makers will start paying more attention to details (pun intented) and trends.
Here are some more examples of great public buildings.
http://www.merrillpastor.com/West_Palm_Beach_Library_Page_03.htm
http://www.merrillpastor.com/Ft_Pierce_Courthouse_Page_04.htm
http://www.rtkl.com/docs/project_sheets/rtkl_shanghai.pdf
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