Von Meerman
Heh, it really does look like a giant pair of boxer shorts. :)
Those glass panes will be fun to walk on *during* an earthquake.
JPAR
Beijing is not in an earthquake zone..... seen this in real life and its rather impressive!
Strauski
If the building seems to defy logic, that is because it does, and for no good reason. There is an awful lot of building hanging out there in space in a gigantic cantilever just tempting fate and the next earthquake to topple it. I wonder how much extra money was spent to build this peculiar structure over the cost of a more sane design. This building, like some others by Frank Ghery and Daniel Libeskind should be seen as freaks of architecture.
Island Architect
Bizzare, insane, freaks, defying logic???
Who's logic? Hopefully not yours.
C'mon folks, this is a stunningly beautiful building and the Chinese should take all sorts of accolades for having the taste and courage to go ahead and build it.
The design is more than Excellent. It is a signature building. While I might agree about Daniel, I'd certainly disagree with any notion that Gehry produces freaks.
Making strong departures from the norm and having them be far more than just successful, actually beautiful, is one of the ennobling aspects of mankind, rarely found.
Otherwise it's just boring, pablum mush for the weak brained automatons!
Bill
Art Brooks
Illogical - its a cantilever. Cost - more than a 'conventional' building would be. Functionality - no more than a conventional building. A edifice dedicated to the architect's ego. A giant slab-sided concrete, steel and glass building, nothing more. IMHO - ugly.
kuryus
I assume there is a girder truss that runs diagonally straigth across from corner to corner running right thru the bridge section. I'll have to see if there are any photos of the building under construction to see if that's correct.
kuryus
No, there is no diagonal girder truss thru the bridge section. The building is built with an exterior structure of vertical and diagonal I beams that form a lattice-like tube. The bridge is truly cantilevered. I wouldn't have done it that way. My way is cheaper but it would take up interior space in the bridge. But hey, when you have money to burn, spend it!
holdenmidfield
Brooks, (I can't bring myself to say "Art" since it would be too ironic,) if you think big buildings should only be judged on the most cost effective means of cramming folks into offices then you might consider not weighing in on the architectural merits of anything. It’s a landmark, an icon and an attraction as well as a workstation. Geez, talk about a Wal-Mart mentality! How much more provincial, narrow-minded and boring can you get?
anmufti
I remember when Airbus was testing A380 the Americans could not handle the fact that bigger better and significantly more efficient jumbo aircraft was being built outside of US. As a American I felt proud of the achievement of human race for it's accomplishment. Most of the negative comments are likely Americans just ticked of that the attention is focussed somewhere else. As an American, I applaud bold decision - right or wrong - for taking the courage to build something different. Congratulations to fellow citizen of China - well done.
Slowburn
There is no reason to think the design is dangerous, but the cost has to be high for the square footage.