Korean Skyscraper “Reminiscent of 9/11”
- Categories: International, News
- Date: Dec 11, 2011 18:14 JST
- Tags: Architecture, Buildings, Comparison, Korea, Seoul, The Netherlands, USA
A new skyscraper planned to grace the skyline of Seoul has been accused of resembling the spectacle of the World Trade Center under terrorist attack.
The structure, dubbed “The Cloud,” is intended as a high-rise apartment building and takes the form of a pair of towers connected by a cubistic blob of rooms.
Construction is currently scheduled for completion in 2015.
The public reaction to the design has so far not been enthusiastic – many have commented on it calling to mind either the explosions caused by planes impacting the WTC or the cloud of debris arising from their collapse.
Even those not so minded have called the design “gross” and “creepy,” presumably on the basis of sheer ugliness.
The building’s architects, MVRDV, are actually a Dutch firm, and strenuously claim that they had no idea the design brought to mind the defining atrocity of the previous decade:
“This design was in no way intended to be related to the events of 9/11, and we had no intention of building such a structure. We apologise for the fact that this offended your sentiments.”
However, they refuse to do anything about it, saying this is solely a matter for the client to determine.
Further complicating their version of events is the fact that they apparently already admitted to a Dutch paper that they were aware of the resemblance throughout the design process but went ahead anyway.
Korea can do no right as far as the majority of online Japanese are concerned, although for once they may have a point:
“It’s just creepy.”
“The design really is gross.”
“No design sense at all.”
“It’s a nice idea, but the execution is grotesque.”
“There is no plane sticking out of it. People are just imagining whatever they want.”
“Leaving aside the question of the design, there’s no way a bunch of filthy Koreans could build or live in such a structure.”
“It’d be like living in a tombstone. Awful.”
“It’s interesting. Ignore the critics and build it!”
“The whole design looks as though it is based on the theme of ‘collapse’.”
“Even if it doesn’t get levelled by an earthquake, it looks like something the northern Korean scum would aim at.”
“Korea and the Netherlands. An effective collaboration of scum.”
“I can’t help but think the client actually asked for it to be based on 9/11.”
“They ripped this off:”
“That’s amazing.”
“MVRDV’s other designs:”
“They just want to make everything float, it seems.”
“I can’t believe they didn’t realise the 9/11 thing.”
“It’s not that similar:”
“Do the Dutch hate the US or something?”
“I want to know what the Americans think of this.”
“Looks like they used Minecraft to make the blueprint…”
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Www
“There is no plane sticking out of it. People are just imagining whatever they want.”
Pretty much.
if there WERE a plane sticking out, then that would be a very unique design imo
I would like to live in that plane. lol
You'd have to join some terrorist course as they'd be renting the room to place their computers with Microsoft Flight Simulator in ;)
Speaking of imagining anything we want, I see the Pangu.
http://images.wikia.com/deusex/en/images/3/39/Hengsha.png
Honestly, I think it's pretty obvious that was the intention behind their design. If you look closely, you'll notice that the buildings are positioned relative to one another pretty much exactly the same as the Trade Center towers were. They clearly had recreating that scene in mind, even if they won't openly admit it.
That said, it's a pretty ugly tower either way. I like the idea of having a floating island between towers, and the cubic, Escheresque design can look impressive when done well, but this implementation isn't particularly attractive, even ignoring its questionable source material. From a distance, it looks diseased.
I, for one, think it's pretty awesome.
I can tell from pics 2 and 3 that the concept is pretty awesome, but I don't think it works in the final designs. It's lacking something. It looks a lot better at night so maybe the color/texture/materials could use some more thought?
Yeah, it isnt perfect :P Needs something... idk what...
I would LOVE it if those rooms light up at night. It will make an 'H' symbol in the city to mark "hey, love hotels are here! :D"
someone failed at tetris!
It looks awesome.
And about that comment about the Koreans and the Dutch being scum...F YOU. You have no right to call other people that. Although they prolly wont read that XD
only few people can imagine WTC from that design
Manga gets suspended for using images from google as background, skyscrapers with a unique design being accused for resembling the spectacle of the World Trade Center under terrorist attack.
The universe is going to hell.
Since the dawn of time, buddy.
one day at a time
The music industry has had to turn out crap like Lady Gaga and Ke$ha for fear of plagiarism.
Uhh, whut? I know they are horrible, but what plagarism?
Pretty fucking damn awesome.
I think Minecraft not WTC Minecraft should sue!! :O
LOL, indeed. :D
It's like video game architecture come to life. Will the Italians contribute next, with some fat plumbers on shrooms hopping around the exterior?
You mean kind of like pixel art, right?
Since it seems to be the designer's signature style, I see no wrong with it except for clashing my own aesthetic sensibilities. It's ugly and should be ashamed of itself.
It wouldn't have been as bad if the towers were closer together and the "explosion" was higher up or a lot lower, maybe starting at the 4th floor to provide some shade on the people under it.
They're trolling with buildings now?
I think its actually insane and definitely unique. It has freaking TREES growing out in the middle of it, and a freaking pond. As long as the buildings safe and deals with earthquakes I wouldn't mind living in it, can go BBQ in your backyard patio in the sky.
Exactly my thoughts. If they can pull this off, It would be one heck of a building.
pffftt why don't they just add a waterfall too that creates a rainbow ... oh wait actually that would be pretty awesome, carry on.
I did that in minecraft...
I'm totally okay with this. Its not like Korea has anything to do with 9/11 whatsoever. I bet most of them don't even remember it. They're just building some cool looking building with a garden in the sky.
More worried about suicides on that thing tho...
It looks pretty horrible from below. You really need to look at it from above and see the trees 'n junk to appreciate it, I think. - - Needs more towerz.
Just like in games, the great city buildings look awful and menacing from the bottom, but beautiful from the top.
Third tower for a triangle. And fill it up with the floating rooms so iys like a platform in the middle. And have a big fountain in the middle (maybe covered with a dome) and have 3 waterfalls at the edges.
Sounds awesome. XD
why the fuck does these commenting people criticize others?
They probably can't even do better than these people actually doing stuff and taking their effort and time into doing it
Yeah but that building seems pretty thin with all that stuff in the middle. If they're not careful then a earthquake is definitely taking that thing down.
If you let the tragedy of ten years ago pull you down even now, you are either THAT much of a sensitive person who cannot let go no matter what or just a money-grubbing relative~
And yes, people should move on because that is the only way to live your life to the fullest...
“Looks like they used Minecraft to make the blueprint…”
Took the words right outta my helmet...
I would not mind living in a building/house theme after the game...Let us hope there's no 'Creepers' inside, if you get my drift~
Creepers would make awesome pets. Don't like your neighbour? Send your creeper after them.
Leaving all the 9/11 stuff out, the design looks horrible imo...
I'd rather have a real house then some apartment esp one in a building that looks like it was designed by a kindergartener.
People making these kinds of comment probably have no idea what art is.
If its made by a kindergartener then your animes are made by an sub 8 year old kid.
People who know about art don't bash anything because they actually appreciate it "art"
The better question is why are the damn russians and japs so concerned with 911 as of late? That was over a decade ago and we don't even remember that stuff anymore.
They are plotting that's why.
Though probably not with each other.
It is coincidentally timed plotting!
When I think of Iraq or Afghanistan, I remember 9/11. Thank Bush.
If no one remembered this article wouldn't exist.
Ambitious and unique. Go for it.
Orgasmic.
Would make for an awesome tourist destination too.
The world does not revolve around the USA
No one implied it did. U MAD?
USA USA USA!
I like rabbits too.
the 2chtards did
“I want to know what the Americans think of this.”
i think that the world revolves around USA for this Jap jackasses
it will until the fascist state breaks under the pressure of its own debt, inflated military and countless proxy wars all over the world
It did and it still does revolve around USA.
Without USA there willbe no Disney,no Disney mean no Osamu Tezuka,no Osamu Tezuka mean no manga and anime....no manga and anime mean no otaku and sankaku complex.
No USA means No Video Games..and yes video games originated from USA (ATARI is from USA)
read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_games
Internet---USA (via DARPA who created Arpanet)
Modern physics---USA ( atom bomb research INDIRECTLY contribute to behavior of particle research which is important for theoritical physics , modern electronics and cpus )