In this week’s comments update, readers are discussing Henriquez Partners Architects’ designs for a trio of skyscrapers in Vancouver, including the city’s first supertall skyscraper.
When completed, the 1,033-foot-tall (314 metre-tall) skyscraper is set to be wrapped in a steel exoskeleton covered in white panelling and glass. Its form and facade pattern take cues from sea glass sponges, according to the studio.
Vancouver’s first supertall skyscraper informed by “ancient glass sea sponge reefs”
“Bravo to the designers and developers!”Â
Commenters questioned the skyscraper’s aquatic inspiration, debating the balance between its aesthetics and design.
“This is the most beautiful and exciting project to be brought before city council in Vancouver in my living memory,” wrote Anthony Hartnell. “Bravo to the designers and developers!”
Commenter Ted was impressed by the marine-inspired design, writing “It’s refreshing to see a ‘supertall’ project that draws its primary aesthetic and structural logic from local marine biology rather than just standard glass-and-steel geometry.”
They added “can’t wait to see how that summit atrium feels in person!”
Other readers were less excited. “There are few towers in the world, even in the USA or the Middle East, able to challenge for the worst nouveau-riche-kinky-expressive trophy,” scathed Pa Varreon. “This Canadian one is on the ranks.”
Frank Lloyd Wrong was similarly critical, saying “Everybody knows the non-market tower will never get built,” before suggesting “the only thing these towers are missing are feather boas.”
What’s your take? Join the discussion ›
Quirky table tennis equipment promotes “more creative” play at French school
“Leave it to the French to invent 3-way ping pong!”
Also scoring points in the comments section this week was Ping Pong Park, a series of quirky table tennis tables created by studio Exercice for a school in France.
Commenters were overwhelmingly positive, supporting the unusual way of encouraging creativity among children.
“The table with a hole each end would be bloody frustrating, but I really like the 3-way table and the table with raised sides,” reflected Brett S.
The Discreet Architect was just as enthused, “Fantastic! I would love to try these out.”
Camille Jung raved, “GENIUS. Love it,” while BOBinRSI3 joked, “Leave it to the French to invent 3-way ping pong!”
Other readers were more measured in their assessments, with Dik Coates writing, “Lovely… I don’t know if there are ‘legal’ sizes of tabletop, but I suspect there are.”
Nick Marshall was sceptical, arguing “Table tennis is a great leisure activity, almost perfect in its simplicity. It does not need to be any more ‘creative’. This is a complete waste of time and effort.”
What do you think? Join the discussion ›
Trump releases design of presidential library skyscraper in Miami
“An absurdly kitsch tower of Babylon”
One project on which readers could agree this week was US President Donald Trump’s release of the renderings of the presidential library skyscraper in Miami.
The video rendering, which was shared by Trump on his Truth Social account on Monday, was designed by American architecture studio Bermello Ajamil & Partners, according to its end title.
Readers were rather derisive, with Pa Varreon writing, “There is one statue missing according to earlier press releases; perhaps they could borrow some gold painted statues, from Disney Epcot in that very State of Florida?” while Arch joked “They forgot the Nobel peace prize in the lobby visualisation.”
Similarly amused, The Truth wrote, “As part of Trump’s commitment to this building achieving LEED Gold status, all toilets will be flushed using harvested Liberal Tears.”
“I’m gonna play devil’s advocate and say Trump has better taste than this but the golden escalator is evidence this is not an April Fool’s prank. That gold statue of him is way too thin though,” said Stranger Than Fiction.
Other commenters took a more blunt view.
“An absurdly kitsch tower of Babylon. It’s a supremely fitting monument that will be laughed at over the centuries,” Guy Wilkins wrote.
Floooo was similarly scathing, “Gosh is this tacky, oversized and cheap… And right next to Miami’s Freedom Tower, tasteless provocation”.
Have you had your say yet? Join the discussion ›
Comments update
Dezeen is the world’s most commented architecture and design magazine, receiving thousands of comments each month from readers. Keep up to date on the latest discussions on our comments page and subscribe to our weekly Debate newsletter, where we feature the best reader comments from stories in the last seven days.