Inga Saffron "Demo things I don't like and disrespect architects I dislike but if... - PhillyBlog

zur · #1 (**permalink**) 02-01-2008, 08:44 AM

but if I like it then it's the end of the world" (my translation of her latest rant)

North Broad Bank Demo = End of World

River Trail Bridge over Conrail that will disrupt her tomatoes = Travesty

Demoing stuff she doesn't like = Required

Funny... Maye the Kimmel Center doesn't want the homeless and randoms wandering around their facility...maybe everything doesn't need to be "public"

http://www.philly.com/philly/enterta...art_of_it.html

I'm critiquing a critic... who is all over the place.

This woman also said Citizen's Bank Park was ugly because it was brick.... and bricks boring..

unless it's ugly green brick like Skirkanich Hall...then it's provocative.

Or demoing a Philadelphia "style" building like North Broad is a horror... unless it's demoing a AIA award winning Philadelphia "style" building like they did FOR Skirkanich Hall.

All I ask is consistency.. something she lacks. So there's my issue.

WQstur · #2 (**permalink**) 02-01-2008, 12:20 PM

Zur, I so damn often disagree with you or am simply annoyed to the heavens with what you have to say.

With Inga though, I agree. Has anyone else noticed that if you diss a Erdy Mchenry building, or whatever the hell that architect is that likes to make mid-rise buildings covered in vinyl-siding is, she and her minions like to call you a "Brick Nazi".

People wake up! You can like both modern AND traditional buildings and not be beholden to one or the other.

thunda · #3 (**permalink**) 02-01-2008, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zur

Funny... Maye the Kimmel Center doesn't want the homeless and randoms wandering around their facility...maybe everything doesn't need to be "public"

It was built with significant public money, with the stated goal (of the architect himself, no less) of being a public meeting space for the city.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zur

This woman also said Citizen's Bank Park was ugly because it was brick.... and bricks boring..

unless it's ugly green brick like Skirkanich Hall...then it's provocative.

In my opinion, both are pretty ugly. But I generally do agree with her about red brick. It's an easy out to give a new building "context" in Philly, and generally not really appropriate for large structures like a stadium or block-long performing arts center.

MarketStEl · #4 (**permalink**) 02-01-2008, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunda

In my opinion, both are pretty ugly. But I generally do agree with her about red brick. It's an easy out to give a new building "context" in Philly, and generally not really appropriate for large structures like a stadium or block-long performing arts center.

I half agree.

But both Fenway Park and Camden Yards are brick or brick-faced structures.

Big blank brick walls a la Kimmel Center don't work. Brick walls with things cut out of or inserted in them, as with the two ballparks above and Franklin Field, do. Perhaps any problem with Citizens Bank Park comes with the way they used the brick rather than the brick itself?

(Channeling an American Institute of Architects radio ad I heard recently: "So you're looking to improve the quality of education? We recommend throwing bricks at the problem.")

random · #5 (**permalink**) 02-02-2008, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zur

but if I like it then it's the end of the world" (my translation of her latest rant)

North Broad Bank Demo = End of World

River Trail Bridge over Conrail that will disrupt her tomatoes = Travesty

Demoing stuff she doesn't like = Required

Funny... Maye the Kimmel Center doesn't want the homeless and randoms wandering around their facility...maybe everything doesn't need to be "public"

http://www.philly.com/philly/enterta...art_of_it.html

I'm critiquing a critic... who is all over the place.

This woman also said Citizen's Bank Park was ugly because it was brick.... and bricks boring..

unless it's ugly green brick like Skirkanich Hall...then it's provocative.

Or demoing a Philadelphia "style" building like North Broad is a horror... unless it's demoing a AIA award winning Philadelphia "style" building like they did FOR Skirkanich Hall.

All I ask is consistency.. something she lacks. So there's my issue.

There's a reason why a lot of the fads fade but certain things become classics with almost universal appeal that stands the test of time.

As your sig line shows, it's hard to tell the difference when it's new.

Throwing out the old and being "provocative" just for the sake of building something weird doesn't really appeal to me. I think a lot of the new stuff is really ugly.

MarketStEl · #6 (**permalink**) 02-02-2008, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by random

There's a reason why a lot of the fads fade but certain things become classics with almost universal appeal that stands the test of time.

As your sig line shows, it's hard to tell the difference when it's new.

Throwing out the old and being "provocative" just for the sake of building something weird doesn't really appeal to me. I think a lot of the new stuff is really ugly.

OTOH, PSFS -- which was a radical departure when it opened 75 years ago -- still looks fresh, elegant, and even new.

The maddening thing about Inga Saffron is that while her judgements are capricious, when she's right about something, she's right. The Kimmel Center does waste a prime corner by putting a blank wall and frosted glass on it. That should have been the gateway to the place, and if it was supposed to invite the public in to wander around or linger, it should have had something besides just doors that say "Come on in!"

kilbillrain · #7 (**permalink**) 02-02-2008, 05:08 PM

Does Inga frquent PB? If so which one of you is her???

seand · #8 (**permalink**) 02-02-2008, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kilbillrain

Does Inga frquent PB? If so which one of you is her???

Me.

raider.adam · #9 (**permalink**) 02-02-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seand

Me.

The Inquirer photographers do wonders.

Scoats · #10 (**permalink**) 02-03-2008, 12:10 PM

The Kimmel needs some serious rework at street level, and on the inside too. Last time I was there, I tried to get to the roof garden but couldn't figure out how. Trying to get the restaurant was also a challenge.

I think Inga criticized the faux brick on the interior of the ballpark. And I agree with her. If all that real brick, why not do something else more interesting with the blank interior walks than faux brick? But all in all the faux brick doesn't really matter there.