October 23, 2003

Gehry Concert Hall

Following up/expanding on the previous post about usabilty/usefulness: SFGate (among others) reports on Frank Gerhy's newest work, the Disney Concert Hall in LA:
But savor what actually exists: a sensuous spectacle to be relished and explored. Someone who never buys a ticket can discover hidden terraces 70 feet in the air, or lean against the thin steel panels that frame the travertine stairway that sweeps upward from the corner of Grand Avenue and First Street. Disney Hall offers triumphant proof that architecture can thrive as an interactive part of the larger culture around it -- not merely an object of contemplation.
From a completely utilitarian standpoint--a rudimentary usability position--the work of Gehry and other contemporary architects is massively stupid. But from a usefulness perspective, one that values the ability of situations and technologies to challenge people, to help them learn things about themselves and the world around them--this makes a lot of sense. pic of Disney Concert Hall

The key question, of course, is this: How does one apply the things learned in deconstructive and postmodernist architecture to other fields? Posted by johndan at October 23, 2003 04:13 PM | TrackBack