Ablarc?

S

sidewalks

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Just wondering what happened to the professor emeritus of the archboston community. Is Ablarc still posting? I hope nothing unfortunate happened. I'm still terribly curious to know what he does professionally. I've got to imagine he works or manages an architectural firm.
 
Anyone tried PM-ing him? It could be a terrible nuisance and drive him further away like a nagging, over-bearing girlfriend, but I miss his posts as well.
 
He has been missing here and Wired New York for over a month. He just started posting again over at WNY so hopefully he will be back here soon as well.
 
statler said:
He has been missing here and Wired New York for over a month. He just started posting again over at WNY so hopefully he will be back here soon as well.
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Figures. NY gets everything first.
 
He must either be a planner or work on the urban houses. The firm's commercial and institutional renderings are less than I would expect from someone with Ablarc's sensibilities.
 
I'm quite impressed with the Dilworth Crescent project. Not only is it well designed and executed, it was built in the early- to mid-90s, long before there was a proven market for anything like this.

As for some of the other cruddier work, I get the impression that Ablarc is one who listens to his client more than his ego, meaning if they demand (and only have the money for) a piece of shit then that's what they'll be getting.

I remember him once telling a story of how he designed a grand staircase for some public project, and having to delete it from the design because they felt it looked too expensive ("that quixotic architect is wasting the taxpayers' money!") even though the project was within budget.
 
kz1000ps said:
As for some of the other cruddier work, I get the impression that Ablarc is one who listens to his client more than his ego, meaning if they demand (and only have the money for) a piece of shit then that's what they'll be getting.

I remember him once telling a story of how he designed a grand staircase for some public project, and having to delete it from the design because they felt it looked too expensive ("that quixotic architect is wasting the taxpayers' money!") even though the project was within budget.
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Yeah. He has said a few times that his clients ask him to 'dumb down' his proposals and as a businessman he wisely agrees (though not without some resistance, I'm sure).

In fact, from a recent post on WNY:

ablarc said:
Styrofoam "architecture." It's how Suburbia is done. These buildings are built to last thirty years. After that, fashions change.

(I do my share.)
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sidewalks said:
He must either be a planner or work on the urban houses. The firm's commercial and institutional renderings are less than I would expect from someone with Ablarc's sensibilities.
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Those are some pretty rude mcmansions they've got going there
 
statler said:
Yeah. He has said a few times that his clients ask him to 'dumb down' his proposals and as a businessman he wisely agrees (though not without some resistance, I'm sure).
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A wise approach to be sure. But I guess I'm surprised he always seems so critical of local and state governments for not having the vision to implement fantasy transit projects with marginal benefits (such as light rail along the greenway). After all, they're only responding to their "clients" desire to not have their taxes increased to pay for boondoggle projects.
 
Maybe it was rude comments that that made him decide to post elsewhere?
 
Scott said:
Maybe it was rude comments that that made him decide to post elsewhere?
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Wouldn't surprise me. We've had someone on this board for a long time who occasionally likes to troll and attack other forum members. He may have driven Westy from here too.

I hope they both come back.
 
Ron Newman said:
I miss Westy too!
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I liked the history lessons. Might have heard it a thousand times before but I never get sick of it. It is good to put things in a historical context.

I also miss the historian from Dorchester and the RE guy from the South End. They are both still around just not here.
 
Whoa!!!!

Wait, I totally mis-read what you wrote, Ron. Ha ha!

I thought you were saying I was the one who wrote the rude comments. I did write a couple rude comments, in the past - and I was so embarrassed, that I changed names! Even now, though, I sometimes take offense at things that I really shouldn't, and mouth off. But, that SUBMIT button is so easy to click!

I think Charles Swift does a great job, it's too bad he disappeared.

If by "South End RE guy" you did mean me, John, I'm still here. If you mean someone else ... he / she should get back here. We need many more commenters and sources of information.
 
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