The new "One Davis Square"

[billharnois.livejournal.com]

Here's what the new One Davis Square building will look like in Fall 2007.

Comments

[billharnois.livejournal.com]

I was actually thinking it looked kind of 70's (or maybe even 50's/60's...some era before I was born)

But I think it looks nicer than the CVS building in Porter Sq. And it's a lot nicer than the rusting building that was there before.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

I think it falls into the style "Contemporary Ugly." It's nice that it appears to have a lot of glass along the first floor, and an awning over part of the sidewalk, but the overall look of it is so generic, almost big box style, it's offensive. It looks like they tried to match the look of Davis while providing lots of daylight for the people inside the building, but a lot of the details just make me cringe. On the other hand, I'm studying architecture right now, so I may have some biases about lack of originality and half-assed attention to detail.

But at least it isn't as in-your-face, out of place, what the HELL was the architect thinking as that . . . that Thing on Mass. Ave., opposite the stone church (a couple three blocks toward Davis from Porter - I forget what the cross street is).

[ron_newman]

Mass. Ave. and Beech Street. The Porter Square Neighbors Association is very angry about that building. I think they sued the city of Cambridge over it, claiming that it violated zoning and shouldn't have been issued a permit. The developer said he was adding to the Long Funeral Service when what he really did was totally replace it.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

developer said he was adding to the Long Funeral Service when what he really did was totally replace it

Ah - that might explain why there is one old brick wall included in the building, which is a complete mismatch to the new construction. "Adding to" my ass.

[komos.livejournal.com]

"Long Funeral Service" is probably the worst name I've ever seen for a funeral home.

[ron_newman]

I loved that sign. It actually made National Lampoon one month.

[magpiefirefly.livejournal.com]

They have "Newcomer Funeral Home" in Rochester, NY.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

I miss that building so much :(

Though, I actually like the new one too.

One Davis Square is soooo ugly, drab, dated, conservative, and just plain hideous. Hopefully it won't really look like that (final buildings rarely look like the planned result).

[komos.livejournal.com]

The architect was probably thinking about a cost-effective way to turn an early 20th century structure that had served as a funeral home into a series of luxury condos.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Yes, but - why so ugly?! Or is badly done post-modernism the height of style in luxury condos these days?

[komos.livejournal.com]

It could be worse?

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

I suppose. That's a pretty grim thought, though.