Ronco Group Renderings

[archiphreak]

So according to Hightowerlover, a building should look like it's function?  A toilet paper imprinter's facilities should look like "sh*t"?  Because of course, that is what it's used for?  I don't mean to jump onto Hightowerlover, he has great posts and I respect everyone's opinions here, but it's more than a little short sighted and narrow minded to accept something of this low a caliber just because the company stamps toilet paper.  If you follow that line of thinking then a garbage man's home should look like a pile of trash; a school teacher's home should look like a giant stapler (that actually might be kind of cool); a politicians home should look like a great big pile of steaming cow dung (they're all full of it...).  And where does it stop?  When will architects take responsibility for their designs and really start to educate their clients?  There seems to be an entire generation of clients, developers, businessmen in general, that honestly think a project like this is a successful design solution.  And, not because of it's architectural significance or even the paired down simplicity of the facade...BUT BECAUSE IT'S CHEAP AND THEY CAN BUILD IT IN 12 DAYS.  UGH!  It's early, I haven't had my coffee.  I need an aspirin.

[thelakelander]

archiphreak, I know how you feel.  Sooner of later we (architects), as a whole, have to take more responsibility for our designs and their affect on our community.

[Jason]

I think he was just cracking a joke guys.  At least that's the way I understood his comment.

But you're both right.  The architecture is less than desireable.  However, what else could be done with what I'm sure is a VERY limited budget?  Many have said in the past that the "little guys" are the ones that will make this city great but the problem is that the little guys don't have much money to work with.  So do we tell them no and send them to some other part of town?  Then sit back and patiently wait to land the glorious "Big fish"?

I don't think that this development is right for LaVilla at all, but it will produce some activity in an areas that sorely needs it.  Furthermore, this is a simple renovation that can be razed for something better without remorse a few years from now when things are really looking up.

[hightowerlover]

well it was a joke... but then again...

i can appreciate it being taken seriously.  granted i dont know how fancy of a building a toilet paper imprinter will really be willing to create.  i mean where do we really draw the line, you can't force a company to make too many changes to their design just because they took a chance on locating downtown.  im sure they could have stamped TP in a number of places but they chose downtown. don't run them off.

and yes there was some sarcasm in that post....

[thelakelander]

There's no reason we can't have Ronco in a decently looking building and no one has to blow the budget to do so.  At this point, there's too much money and time in this deal for someone to walk over a Design Review Committee suggesting that the facade be improved before granting them their final approval.  If the DRC can't do that, then what's the point of having a DRC?

[thelakelander]

This project is now nearing completion.