This is a new Art Museum in Metz, France. Its hard to tell if its an eyesore or fascinating. At the outset, it certainly seems stupid. The inspiration for the roof was on old straw hat bought by the architect years ago at a flea market.
Architecture is, in the main, supposed to blend in with the surroundings. If the area is traditional, it should with some exceptions fit in with that motif. Many municipal construction codes reflect this hope. But there is also beauty in variety and it is often pleasurable to walk around a neighbourhood where you can feast eyes on different style buildings that clash but never dominate one another. And, there is something almost inherently liberal about the idea.
It should come as no surprise that the architect to this building is Japanese. The Japanese have been building riduculous, overly thought, unlivable structures since the early 60's. The Pruitt-Igoe housing project is the scarriest example of note. In Pruiit- Igoe's case, it was modernity rum amok, with thought only to rationality and efficiency; which people have never really cared for when constructing dwellings. In the Metz museum's case above, it is post-modernity run amok, with all thought to play and none to the people who have to drive by a concrete hat with paintings inside everyday. Though the notion is vague, livability must come first in any architectural considerations. Play and efficiency only after.
In contrast, look at this kick-ass building from Bilbao, Spain. No hat, no matter how stunning or beautiful could ever inspire the builiding of this work of art. This shits all the fuck over any old weirdo straw hat.
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