Photo of the Day, Boston Style - Part Deux

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castevens said:
On Saturday morning at 5:00 am, my building lost power and my computer completely crashed.
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Oye vey, sorry to hear. But at least this reminds me that it's the end of the month and it's time for me to back up the hard drive.

Oh yeah, a photo might be nice:
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^Great perspective. The glass over the MBTA entrances looks terrific.
 
Thx

There will be more.. now that I have pics hosted and have figured out how to get them on here.
 
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^ It's the little things that bother me. What's that bubble thing in the middle of the circle? An aimless attempt at preventing this from becoming a "Pit" a la Harvard Square (the Greenway should aspire to that sort of life). Why the ugly handrail when the sign is clearly demonstrating how handicapped (or just clumsy) people can avoid the stairs by walking around the circle in the other direction?
 
Is it just me, or is the pink granite monstrosity in the center of this photo the single worst piece of PoMo in the entire city?
 
Beton Brut said:
Is it just me, or is the pink granite monstrosity in the center of this photo the single worst piece of PoMo in the entire city?
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I like the base of the building a little (it feels like it is trying to be the buildings next to it too much) but that tower part is pretty bad. You know, just about every building in that shot (except 1 Lincoln) is pretty bad.
 
Beton Brut said:
Is it just me, or is the pink granite monstrosity in the center of this photo the single worst piece of PoMo in the entire city?
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I love that building. I think the design is quite unique and gives diversity to the city. I think if it was taller it will be a pretty good tower.
 
Ya, i like that building too...I don't see what is so bad about it??
 
That's 125 Summer we're talking about, and I don't see anything particularly bad about it (I think it wears the pink granite well, and it has a distinctive lobby). But as far as massing goes that is one extremely confused little tower.

For even worse PoMo, I'd say look to the tower-ette behind it with the red top (99 Summer) -- it resorts to many more cliches of the style than 125, which seems downright inspired by comparison.

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Same time and place as my previous pic, I like what the clouds do for this shot:

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kz1000ps said:
But as far as massing goes that is one extremely confused little tower.
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Among the reasons I despise this building.

It should be noted that the original proposal for this site was a hexagonal 40+ story tower with equally kooky historicist detailing, as if it had been pealed off of South Station. Would have looked great in Atlanta or Houston. Fidelity proposed a similarly awful looking tower for the present site of the Post Office Square Park. I recall seeing renderings and models of this stuff a few years back on the old, old forum (I think Poolio posted it).

The 80's, thanks to Michael Graves and Johnson/Burgee, produced some really silly-looking buildings that have aged about as well as a Spandau Ballet record.

kz1000ps said:
For even worse PoMo, I'd say look to the tower-ette behind it with the red top (99 Summer) -- it resorts to many more cliches of the style than 125, which seems downright inspired by comparison.
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Never like that one either, but oddly, it looks better with One Lincoln next door.

Nice shot BTW -- I've always had a soft spot of Pietro Belluschi. I watched that one go up every morning from the school bus.
 
You know, just about every building in that shot (except 1 Lincoln) is pretty bad.
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Yes, they are...but at least most of them meet the street better than their sleek cousin, the Federal Reserve. That building's suburban office park rear end is the true bane of Dewey Square.
 
DarkFenX said:
Beton Brut said:
Is it just me, or is the pink granite monstrosity in the center of this photo the single worst piece of PoMo in the entire city?
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I love that building. I think the design is quite unique and gives diversity to the city. I think if it was taller it will be a pretty good tower.
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I agree. good building. would look better if it were taller.
 
Funny, I always liked 99 Summer St. primarily due to it's red top which was so unusual and different from the other flat-topped towers in Boston back in 86. Always wished it had been a bit taller. 20 years later, the State Street Financial building has similar aspects to 99 Summer's top. Love everything about State Street Financial, especially it's lighting at night.
 
If the pink stump has a saving grace, it's the string of small buildings that skirt it. I could never tell if they're preserved old facades or a custom-built stage set, but either way there are few towers in Boston which meet the street as politely.

To my mind, the only remotely good building in that picture is the cantilevered brown box. It adds a rare pinch of drama to the streetscape, and lets you see through the next layer of buildings.

As for 1 Lincoln, I don't see how it's essentially different from the pink stump. Two turds from the same stylistic hole.

justin
 
czsz said:
Why the ugly handrail when the sign is clearly demonstrating how handicapped (or just clumsy) people can avoid the stairs by walking around the circle in the other direction?
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Code.
 
^ Bramante on Copley Square.


(you can also catch him at the Christian Science Center)
 
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