Agreed; it doesn't look like you could just lift it and move it 3 feet.
But if you can, why not move it 300 feet into a park or somewhere it will be appreciated aside from the sharp contrast to Apple's modern store.
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Apple's Revised Plans for New Flagship San Francisco Store Will Keep Fountain, Tweak Facades
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Agreed; it doesn't look like you could just lift it and move it 3 feet.
But if you can, why not move it 300 feet into a park or somewhere it will be appreciated aside from the sharp contrast to Apple's modern store.
This is true. I grew up in NYC, and I recalling hating those things (along with everyone else) when they went up.
But a few years later I did take a date to Windows... Wow.
If the architects do it right, they will probably choose a much better material than that brick for the fountain to sit on. It'll probably look great.
I'm really glad to hear about the side window!
I agree. I see the artistic value in the fountain, but think that the old brickwork stairs surrounding it does it no favors. If they were to use a less detracting material for steps, and elongate the steps to a width of say three steps per level, the fountain could be showcased.
I think if the designers at Apple think the fountain is ugly, then make it the centerpiece. Give the people what they think they want, and revel in the results. If it is ugly, then all people will talk about is how the people of SF insisted on keeping it. If it is deemed that they finally placed the fountain in a setting much deserving of its beauty, then they win by being geniuses for finding a way to display it better than the artist could.
The city is nothing more than a cog, either. A tool, if you will. The other poster's point was that both commerce and government are necessary components in a society, and the view that somehow governments have been anointed with a higher power and calling is very twisted and wrong.
This illustrates that better than anything. Look at the current layout of that corner. It's hideous, by any stretch of the imagination. It's ugly, dated and trashy, from a time when Union Square was allowed to grow into a hodgepodge of ugly buildings. The almighty city government approved that, and oversaw it's development.
The building that Apple originally designed could have been the beginning of a renaissance for Union Square. But because the government "leaders" didn't have the vision or the balls to stand up to the "activists" who whined they are somehow to be applauded? Phooey.
everyone is an art critic
Considering the little art education provided in most American school past kindergarden it is surprising to see how many here are happy to get rid of an artist's work to make more room for the biggest corporation in the world's new latest store. There are people that dedicate their lives to making art, and those to learning, preservation and curating our collected cultural history. Our civilization is nothing without art. All you fans of Jon Ivy must realize what he is doing not just designing cases for Apple's products but relying on his education and understanding of culture, art and design.
Considering the little art education provided in most American school past kindergarden it is surprising to see how many here are happy to get rid of an artist's work to make more room for the biggest corporation in the world's new latest store. There are people that dedicate their lives to making art, and those to learning, preservation and curating our collected cultural history. Our civilization is nothing without art. All you fans of Jon Ivy must realize what he is doing not just designing cases for Apple's products but relying on his education and understanding of culture, art and design.
I agree with your fountain sentiment. But regarding the towers, you may have known them all your life. But for those of us who remember them going up, they were considered an eyesore at the time.
BTW, invoking the tragedy of 9/11 in an architectural discussion cheapens your point. He was discussing public reaction to buildings prior to 9/11, then you added emotionalism and exploited the memory of the dead. I suspect you had better intentions, but it ended up being a poor move.
No the city is the second smallest section of society commerce plays a role in but it is the cog it's nothing more than a means. We not talking commerce here though we talking a single company that like a politician is imminently replaceable. The city council was elected by all the people in the city including those that work in commerce. Apple was not elected to any part of the city governance nor given any special privilege over the direction the city takes. Apple will do what the city wills or move on it's merry way there is after all no border in commerce. Apple has elected to do what the city wills.
I should start filing complaints to all the beaches I visit when I build sand castles. They get knocked down by 1) kids or 2) the city every morning
I guess I could just get over it.
Think you can you stretch a little more?
Maybe being a good neighbor was more important than looking tough?
Uhm...
Agree.
Not a big fan of it myself, kind of looks like a giant pile of turds, literally, (and I did go to and graduate from an art/design university), but I kind of like that they're keeping it. Not sure why. Maybe because it will look slightly better against white concrete stairs instead of red brick. The backdrop of the slate colored Apple store will also clash less than the beige neo-stucco of the old Levi's store.
On another note, Ironic that Apple now has an (x) Levi's VP, no?
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Good. The original design was cheap and unimaginative and unworthy. Apple thought any glass cube shape was oh so modernnnn. It isn't. Having a window for pedestrians to see the glowing display of Apple products...the city had to force Apple to do a far smarter design?
To complete the project properly pressure spray the sculpture and the bums.
To complete the project properly pressure spray the sculpture and the bums.
I can see by your handle that you have a typical European mindset that the people serve the government, instead of the other way around.
Government, city or otherwise is nothing more than a servant, and they should have no "will." You put some sort of special significance on the fact that these bureaucrats somehow get to run the asylum, and it's really just mainly a matter of nobody caring enough on a day to day basis to throw them out, unless they really screw up. "The people" vote every day, with their wallets. Without commerce, city, county, state and federal governments are nothing. But commerce can and does exist without government.
It all runs better when they work in partnership, but make no mistake. Government needs commerce a Hell of a lot more than vice versa.
When government becomes too self important, they usually lose, because there are always other governments who will provide a more commerce friendly environment.
If it was spurting champagne, it would definitely be more popular.noooooo...u calling it wrong mate !
its Champagne.
Apparently you didn't click on my handle..
Companies are quite replaceable and are replaced quite frequently. Companies and commerce are simply a tool of society. Government is serving the people of the city of SF they're not serving Apple Inc.
Just my personal opinion, but I was hoping they would get rid of it .... and maybe replace with a giant black MacPro with a fountain in the middle.
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agreed, that's would've looked really cool, they could also use a giant apple tv, with water coming out form the top.
Wonder what the city would have said if Apple wanted to replace that ugly fountain with some beautifully designed black-glass fountain?
It'd look like a giant mac pro shooting water
It'd look like a giant mac pro shooting water
IMO, both
The fountain isn't terrible, in and of itself. In fact, I'd say it's pretty artistic. But it clashes pretty badly with the stark, clean lines and structure of anything like an Apple store.
The fountain isn't terrible, in and of itself. In fact, I'd say it's pretty artistic. But it clashes pretty badly with the stark, clean lines and structure of anything like an Apple store.
A little bit of actual knowledge about Ruth Asawa for all of the instant art critics:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/arts/design/ruth-asawa-an-artist-who-wove-wire-dies-at-87.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/au...crocheted-wire-sculptures-dies-at-87-20130806
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/arts/design/ruth-asawa-an-artist-who-wove-wire-dies-at-87.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/au...crocheted-wire-sculptures-dies-at-87-20130806