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re: Why is Architecture so Bland Today?

Posted on 2/26/24 at 1:03 am to
Posted by PurpleandGold Motown
Birmingham, Alabama
Member since Oct 2007
22450 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 1:03 am to
One reason you don't see unique designs for fast food restaurants is simply the potential resell value. Distinct buildings are hard to convert.

Once a Pizza Hut, always a Pizza Hut.
Posted by Corinthians420
Iowa
Member since Jun 2022
9353 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 1:20 am to
quote:

One reason you don't see unique designs for fast food restaurants is simply the potential resell value. Distinct buildings are hard to convert.

Once a Pizza Hut, always a Pizza Hut.

it took 4 pages but someone finally mentioned the practical reason besides blaming lack of creativity or government regulations.

corporations have learned that it's much harder to get out from under a building if it's gonna be a pain in the arse for someone else to move into it.

KFC closed all these buildings in 2023 in SWLA
quote:

KFC 2412 Ryan Street, Lake Charles
KFC 1400 N. Martin Luther King Highway, Lake Charles
KFC 1498 Elton Road, Jennings
KFC 812 Pine Street, DeRidder
KFC 2203 N. Parkerson Avenue, Crowley
KFC 1840 W. Laurel Avenue, Eunice


imagine how hard it wouldve been to sell them or convert them if they were shaped like a huge bucket of chicken instead of a generic box
Posted by LemmyLives
Texas
Member since Mar 2019
7535 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 1:21 am to
Well, I'll shite on you a bit. you can totally build a Dominos in a building that is a part of a medieval tower, hundreds of years old (I think that was in Cashel, IE.)

Nobody in this thread, I think, was talking about converting existing structures. New construction. I've had the fortunate? experience of working around architects, and you know when to stand back and wait for them to make inane statements (there are no cut bricks!)

It's not my bag, but I sometimes know when to keep my mouth shut and watch people that know what they're doing, and let them do it.
Posted by Corinthians420
Iowa
Member since Jun 2022
9353 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 1:23 am to
quote:

Nobody in this thread, I think, was talking about converting existing structures. New construction.

when these corporations build new construction they have to factor in future resell value if the location doesnt do well.
Posted by LemmyLives
Texas
Member since Mar 2019
7535 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 1:29 am to
quote:

new construction they have to factor in future resell value if the location doesnt do well.

So we're talking about architecture. We're not talking about what a Pollo Loco could become later.
Posted by tsmi136
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2011
3962 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 1:34 am to
quote:

Mayor Mary made Same's alter its design before she approved the permit.
You mean get her construction materials business in order before she approved the permit?
Posted by Penrod
Member since Jan 2011
42553 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 6:16 am to
quote:

You ever see a communist city?

Well, you are certainly right about that. But capitalism and communism are not the only possibilities, and beauty in art is best promulgated by religious authoritarianism.
Posted by prplhze2000
Parts Unknown
Member since Jan 2007
52738 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 6:22 am to
Ha. Madison is real strict on site planning. Made Walmart change it's design too when it came to town.
Posted by lsuCJ5
Holly Springs, NC
Member since Nov 2012
1021 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 6:32 am to
i was thinking about this the other day. The American architecture has sure turned bland. The Hindu's built this temple near me in Cary, NC. Say what you want, but it is an impressive structure.
Posted by Koach K
Member since Nov 2016
4344 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 6:53 am to
The best part is modern construction is still not all that functional. Leaks. Bad layouts. Crappy materials.

We can’t even build a damn box. As my brother asks, will you still need to finance the little boxes (cabinets) to put inside your already crappy box?

Edit: The Geography of Nowhere is a good read. It is a detailed book about our architecture and suburb layout.
This post was edited on 2/26/24 at 9:34 am
Posted by dewster
Chicago
Member since Aug 2006
25685 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 7:00 am to
Architecture is a reflection of society.

And society is crumbling. So architecture is less of a human scale and more like cold, depressing modernist crap that feels less welcoming. Fast food in particular wants to encourage more drive thru business so they don’t have to spend as much on cleaning the interior. So they use fewer roof elements that extend outward and draw people in, and dining rooms now feel very sterile and uncomfortable.

Same reason everyone is driving around in SUVs in various shades of grey, black, or white. Modern vehicles look like angry toasters instead of fun looking vehicles in fun colors like we had in the 1950s-1960s. We can’t make cars like the Thunderbird or Beetle work today. Even the Miata looks pissed off now. The world feels less safe so consumers demand more serious looking cars that make them feel safe.
This post was edited on 2/26/24 at 7:08 am
Posted by SlowFlowPro
Simple Solutions to Complex Probs
Member since Jan 2004
435758 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 7:14 am to
quote:

corporations have learned that it's much harder to get out from under a building if it's gonna be a pain in the arse for someone else to move into it.

KFC closed all these buildings in 2023 in SWLA


Funny enough we have a Pizza hut that closed down a few years ago in the older style and it's basically abandoned. I think a couple of those KFCs have already been bought.
Posted by tigerbaiter
Member since Dec 2006
436 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 7:19 am to
Nope. It’s still there.
Posted by dewster
Chicago
Member since Aug 2006
25685 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 7:24 am to
quote:

Yeah that Soviet bloc housing was something special


It was horrific and de humanizing. Like human storage centers. A lot of modern housing blocks in the US look like smaller, more expensive versions of that too - largely because code requires more stairs and elevators that are financially feasible on smaller developments.

IMO some of the worst trends out there was this brutalist crap that was used in government and university buildings in the 1950s-1990s. They provide views out but feel like bunkers from the outside. As if the designers knew the people inside would either not trust society outside or felt superior to them or both. Notable example is the Hoover building in DC, used as the FBI’s main HQ.
This post was edited on 2/26/24 at 7:27 am
Posted by DavidTheGnome
Monroe
Member since Apr 2015
29946 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 7:43 am to
You’re examples of before all seem extremely bland architecturally other than having a flashy sign out front and a hoop or a triangle on the roof. Otherwise the buildings look extremely cheap and meh.

I do agree that architecture has become a lot more bland overall but would have chosen better examples. The design and flourishes of art deco for instance is imo peak American architecture
Posted by DavidTheGnome
Monroe
Member since Apr 2015
29946 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 7:45 am to
quote:

IMO some of the worst trends out there was this brutalist crap that was used in government and university buildings in the 1950s-1990s



Absolutely. Any and all brutalist structures need to be demolished and replaced asap. To the point I’d consider it a mild national security crisis
Posted by tigerfoot
Alexandria
Member since Sep 2006
57706 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 7:49 am to
quote:

imagine how hard it wouldve been to sell them or convert them if they were shaped like a huge bucket of chicken instead of a generic box
I don’t disagree. But local govt should insure that instead of taking every nickel you can out of a community you add to the aesthetic value of the community.

Posted by Adam Banks
District 5
Member since Sep 2009
33300 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 7:57 am to
quote:

So we're talking about architecture. We're not talking about what a Pollo Loco could become later.







What was this building originally supposed to be?



Do you think the the new owners paid a premium or a discount?
Posted by prplhze2000
Parts Unknown
Member since Jan 2007
52738 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 7:58 am to
I do miss the Pizza Hut lunch boo-fay
Posted by alajones
Huntsvegas
Member since Oct 2005
34837 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 8:01 am to
(no message)
This post was edited on 2/26/24 at 8:02 am
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