It is always surprising to discover how the criticism of a particular building, such as a skyscraper, can change drastically over the years. For example, when the Chrysler Building opened in 1930, it was castigated by a number of critics for being too flashy. Today it ranks as one of the defining landmarks on the New York skyline. The Empire State Building, completed in 1931, was considered a formidable construction achievement. Yet its mooring mast, installed to assure it would be the tallest skyscraper in the world and rationalized as a landing port for dirigibles, made it a topic of ridicule among the critics. Now the Empire State Building has become the inarguable symbol of New York City, mooring mast and all. When the plans for Rockefeller Center were announced in 1931, a vigorous public outcry condemned the proposed scheme for its density, its height, and its bland, block-like buildings. The brouhaha led to revisions, but it was still criticized, until architects and laypeople began to admire it. Today this mecca for visitors embodies Manhattan’s essence of urbanity.
What is it that causes opinions to change? In analyzing critiques illustrating how some skyscrapers are vilified and then later venerated, or how some are embraced enthusiastically and later overlooked, we find a mix of reasons. For example, ideological beliefs to which both designers and critics may adhere, such as traditional or modern architectural principles, can shift over time. The aesthetic, functional, symbolic, and urbanistic criteria that determine these evaluations also are modified as the physical and cultural context is transformed. Then, too, the psychological effect of the “shock of the new,” where time is needed for the eye and the mind to adjust to the unfamiliar, can eventually dissipate along with initial judgments.
You have 0 complimentary articles remaining.
Unlimited access + premium benefits for as low as $1.99/month.