I have to admit, while it's still not perfect, this is one of the best architectural saves I've ever seen.
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I still have no idea how the first version of the extension got approved. Like, the building isn't, I suppose, all that bad. It's interesting. But why the fuck would you build it as an extension to that big beautiful cake of an Opera House? I assume the contrast was deliberate, but in my admittedly non-expert opinion, it's a BAD contrast. I don't even hate modern architecture! I just hated that extension SPECIFICALLY.
And I like Belfast City Hospital, which is usually regarded by the general public as absolutely fuck-ugly. Glorious big yellow brutalist plug. Absolute landmark of South Belfast and the third-highest building in the country. You can navigate by it.
@astronomerritt agree on both counts
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I still have no idea how the first version of the extension got approved. Like, the building isn't, I suppose, all that bad. It's interesting. But why the fuck would you build it as an extension to that big beautiful cake of an Opera House? I assume the contrast was deliberate, but in my admittedly non-expert opinion, it's a BAD contrast. I don't even hate modern architecture! I just hated that extension SPECIFICALLY.
And I like Belfast City Hospital, which is usually regarded by the general public as absolutely fuck-ugly. Glorious big yellow brutalist plug. Absolute landmark of South Belfast and the third-highest building in the country. You can navigate by it.
Anyway, Belfast Grand Opera House looks like this on the inside, so you can see why I might be irritated at that older attempt at modern architecture for the extension. Not particularly in keeping with the aesthetic.
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I have to admit, while it's still not perfect, this is one of the best architectural saves I've ever seen. Belfast Grand Opera House and "Baby Grand" extension, pre- and post-2021.
@astronomerritt oh my good God, that’s horrible!
The one on the left I mean. It’s like two buildings crashed int each other.
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@astronomerritt oh my good God, that’s horrible!
The one on the left I mean. It’s like two buildings crashed int each other.
@hedders It's vile, isn't it? I assume several designs were submitted, and it's hard to believe THAT was the best of the lot.
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I still have no idea how the first version of the extension got approved. Like, the building isn't, I suppose, all that bad. It's interesting. But why the fuck would you build it as an extension to that big beautiful cake of an Opera House? I assume the contrast was deliberate, but in my admittedly non-expert opinion, it's a BAD contrast. I don't even hate modern architecture! I just hated that extension SPECIFICALLY.
And I like Belfast City Hospital, which is usually regarded by the general public as absolutely fuck-ugly. Glorious big yellow brutalist plug. Absolute landmark of South Belfast and the third-highest building in the country. You can navigate by it.
@astronomerritt
Looks like Deep Thought.
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@hedders It's vile, isn't it? I assume several designs were submitted, and it's hard to believe THAT was the best of the lot.
@astronomerritt Yeah. I wonder what the ones they rejected were like? A giant Ian Paisley made from Lego? A literal abattoir?
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Anyway, Belfast Grand Opera House looks like this on the inside, so you can see why I might be irritated at that older attempt at modern architecture for the extension. Not particularly in keeping with the aesthetic.
I will jokingly call Belfast a shithole but please realise I don't mean it, in reality it's a great city with some fantastic buildings and a fascinating history and if anyone who is not from the north of Ireland calls it a shithole I will throw hands. Everyone should visit Belfast. It's brilliant.
Also, we have a pretty great food scene, for some reason. Much better than you'd expect for the size of the place. Just don't eat in the Crown, it's a tourist trap and the food is shite.
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@astronomerritt Yeah. I wonder what the ones they rejected were like? A giant Ian Paisley made from Lego? A literal abattoir?
@hedders Big concrete block painted red, white and blue with a statue of King Billy on top.
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@astronomerritt
Looks like Deep Thought.@RealGene Ha! Does a bit, doesn't it...
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I still have no idea how the first version of the extension got approved. Like, the building isn't, I suppose, all that bad. It's interesting. But why the fuck would you build it as an extension to that big beautiful cake of an Opera House? I assume the contrast was deliberate, but in my admittedly non-expert opinion, it's a BAD contrast. I don't even hate modern architecture! I just hated that extension SPECIFICALLY.
And I like Belfast City Hospital, which is usually regarded by the general public as absolutely fuck-ugly. Glorious big yellow brutalist plug. Absolute landmark of South Belfast and the third-highest building in the country. You can navigate by it.
@astronomerritt I love city hospital, James Ashe makes a fantastic print illustration of it.
Belfast Prints, James Ashe - Royal Society of Ulster Architects
Printed in Belfast on 170GSM pure matte paper. Delivered by Royal Mail 1st Class or International Standard postage in a hardback envelope or poster tube for A3.
Royal Society of Ulster Architects (rsua.org.uk)
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@astronomerritt I love city hospital, James Ashe makes a fantastic print illustration of it.
Belfast Prints, James Ashe - Royal Society of Ulster Architects
Printed in Belfast on 170GSM pure matte paper. Delivered by Royal Mail 1st Class or International Standard postage in a hardback envelope or poster tube for A3.
Royal Society of Ulster Architects (rsua.org.uk)
@DrChris Oooh, the one of the King's Hall is great as well. And the one of Transport House could almost make me like it.
(To be fair my main issue with Transport House is how dilapidated it looks.)
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I will jokingly call Belfast a shithole but please realise I don't mean it, in reality it's a great city with some fantastic buildings and a fascinating history and if anyone who is not from the north of Ireland calls it a shithole I will throw hands. Everyone should visit Belfast. It's brilliant.
Also, we have a pretty great food scene, for some reason. Much better than you'd expect for the size of the place. Just don't eat in the Crown, it's a tourist trap and the food is shite.
@astronomerritt 100% agree with all of this. I never understood the first version of the extension at all. It was vile, ugly, and just weirdly unwelcoming. It clashed so badly with the exterior of the opera house also.
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@astronomerritt 100% agree with all of this. I never understood the first version of the extension at all. It was vile, ugly, and just weirdly unwelcoming. It clashed so badly with the exterior of the opera house also.
@HarriettMB Right?? It was awful inside too! It looked like some sort of futuristic school canteen. It's quite elegant in there now, and much more appropriate.
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@DrChris Oooh, the one of the King's Hall is great as well. And the one of Transport House could almost make me like it.
(To be fair my main issue with Transport House is how dilapidated it looks.)
@astronomerritt I like the transport house
I really need to visit the brewery they have next door now in the ulster sports club. -
@astronomerritt 100% agree with all of this. I never understood the first version of the extension at all. It was vile, ugly, and just weirdly unwelcoming. It clashed so badly with the exterior of the opera house also.
@HarriettMB
the thing to understand is that theres a kind of architect who thinks the job of an architect is to impose the architects will on everyone else. the more you hate the building the more they've succeeded. its perverse power brokering or something.
@astronomerritt -
@astronomerritt I like the transport house
I really need to visit the brewery they have next door now in the ulster sports club.@DrChris Had no idea there was even a brewery down there! Looks really interesting. Might want to go myself, so feel free to lmk if you're heading that way.
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@HarriettMB
the thing to understand is that theres a kind of architect who thinks the job of an architect is to impose the architects will on everyone else. the more you hate the building the more they've succeeded. its perverse power brokering or something.
@astronomerritt@dlakelan @HarriettMB You know what, that does explain it. That building very much feels like an architect imposing their very specific vision on everyone else whether they like it or not. Absolutely no regard for the surroundings or the people actually using the building. A big "LOOK AT ME" in concrete and glass.
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I still have no idea how the first version of the extension got approved. Like, the building isn't, I suppose, all that bad. It's interesting. But why the fuck would you build it as an extension to that big beautiful cake of an Opera House? I assume the contrast was deliberate, but in my admittedly non-expert opinion, it's a BAD contrast. I don't even hate modern architecture! I just hated that extension SPECIFICALLY.
And I like Belfast City Hospital, which is usually regarded by the general public as absolutely fuck-ugly. Glorious big yellow brutalist plug. Absolute landmark of South Belfast and the third-highest building in the country. You can navigate by it.
@astronomerritt is that a building or a giant CPU cooler?
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@astronomerritt is that a building or a giant CPU cooler?
@dave Ha! It does look exactly like something you'd plug into a motherboard, doesn't it? People mostly hate it, but those who don't hate it LOVE it.
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@DrChris Had no idea there was even a brewery down there! Looks really interesting. Might want to go myself, so feel free to lmk if you're heading that way.
@astronomerritt That would be fab! Will do -- I've tried Pencil Pusher and it's good but slacker and NSFW are calling my name! https://outofofficebrewing.co.uk
