quit an ugly building, one of those that falls out of style after a year and is then hated for decades before being torn down
As mentioned above, the Flat Iron Building in NYC, though not as radical as the building under discussion, is also a wedge shaped building.
It was built in 1902 and is an Historical Landmark in NY. It is definitely not hated nor it has it been torn down, as it is a protected landmark.
See http://www.wikipedia.com/wiki/flatironbuilding.