Worst 10 Projects of the Decade (2000-2009)

[joebos]

The entire "Seaport" should have been on that list. Maybe it was planned prior to the last decade. Ehh, I guess that's more about urban planning than architecture.

 

[ablarc]

^ The planning is bad and so is the architecture.

 

[briv]

Planning? What planning? If the Seaport were developing according to some plan, that plan should certainly be here. Unfortunately, it's pretty clear their winging it there.

I wish I had the presence of mind to nominate Avinir. That project is at the top of my list of shitty new projects. If the rest of the Bullfinch Triangle "restoration" follows its lead I think I'd prefer the elevated rail/ highway. That's no exaggeration. That building is utter shit. Horrible.

 

[ablarc]

Planning? What planning?

Well, someone laid out the roadways instead of streets, and someone wrote some words (badly) to govern what was built, and the BRA approved the whole mess after the usual procedures. That's a form of planning, and it sucks.

 

[bdurden]

The entire "Seaport" should have been on that list. Maybe it was planned prior to the last decade. Ehh, I guess that's more about urban planning than architecture.

There are some successes in the Seaport -- the ICA, MetLife, the Harborwalk extension, and the new mixed use waterfront development looks promising. So, while the planning piece is unfortunate, it is not all bad. If you don't believe me, just head out there on a nice day and read a book on the ICA deck. It's a success.

 

[czsz]

The ICA is mostly successful for turning its back on the rest of the Seaport.

 

[unterbau]

Neighborhood should be renamed Carport

 

[BarbaricManchurian]

Why aren't the new NEU dorms on the list?

 

[BarbaricManchurian]

Also, the Big Dig.

 

[armpitsOFmight]

What's wrong with the big dig? They'll be able to build on the RKG in the next 100 years.

 

[BarbaricManchurian]

What's wrong with the big dig? They'll be able to build on the RKG in the next 100 years.

I personally don't have too big of a problem with it, but some don't like it because they consider it less urban than the old elevated highway and that it shows the political favoritism for auto transportation over other modes.

 

[ablarc]

It's the ultimate proof and symbol of Boston's suburbanization.

 

[czsz]

What's wrong with the big dig? They'll be able to build on the RKG in the next 100 years.

How many hundred year old parks in Boston do you know that have gotten developed recently?

 

[armpitsOFmight]

It's the ultimate proof and symbol of Boston's suburbanization.

Please explain or if you already did on another thread can I have the link?

How many hundred year old parks in Boston do you know that have gotten developed recently?

The RKG isn't a park, its a parking lot filled with grass; this is way different than the emerald necklace.

 

[bdurden]

It's the ultimate proof and symbol of Boston's suburbanization.

Nah, it's just bad planning that will likely be corrected over decades to come. The destruction of neighborhoods to build the highway to begin with is suburbanization.

 

[czsz]

The RKG isn't a park, its a parking lot filled with grass; this is way different than the emerald necklace.

Try explaining this to the open space zealots.

 

[AmericanFolkLegend]

I don't get the bashing of the BCEC. How many cities have a 500,000+ SF convention center walking distance from downtown and less than 2 miles from the airport? Sure it looks like shit from the top but just about every large building in Boston does because you're taking in the mechanicals. There's nothing earth-shattering about street-level design, but the awning is memorable and attractive enough. And the best part is that BCEC has booked well and done so without killing the Hynes.

If you want to argue that Boston shouldn't be a convention city, fine. But it's tough to argue that the BCEC hasn't been a success (let alone call it one of the "worst" projects of the decade).

 

[czsz]

It's a pretty terrible thing for the development of the Seaport. Doesn't exactly facilitate an urban neighborhood to have a superblock building large enough to accommodate several Bay Villages inside.

 

[AmericanFolkLegend]

I don't think it's

terrible for the development of the Seaport.

1. At best its at the fringe of the Seaport. It's surrounded by industrial-zoned land on three sides.
2. During the first 25 years they were "developing" the Seaport nothing was built aside from the WTC, and the Moakley Courthouse. Drop in the BCEC and the neighborhood sprouts 2 hotels, and a couple dozen restaurants.

Your right it's terribe for the Seaport if the goal is to recreate the South End, but I don't think that was ever going to happen.