San Francisco has recently welcomed Las Vegas (architecture not gambling). This is building is nearly complete but has a very early 1990′s architecture. In fact, it could have been a blueprint from 1989 and it the blueprints dusted were submitted before the Planning commission.
The new InterContinental hotel is a tan and aqua structure. The colours are not harmonious but a form trying to be avant garde. But instead this buiilding is a 100% un-original, in-authentic and seems to have nothing propelling to a current architectural form.
The rectangular form is dull and un-inspired; the entry side has a dated glass that has some curvature that is a cross between Las Vegas and Miami circa 1986. I am sure Crocker and Tubbs would feel at home here. The coloration does not make me want to go inside or wonder the internal floor plans. The rectangular box has some curvature on top that makes me think Marriott. There is no invitation to enter or to keep the eye exploring; no texture or texture that is authentic. It should be required that a building of this stature explore the limits of modern materials and engineering. This is a something that seems to have been designed last century and the plans were dusted off. The aqua glass seems to be so not uncomfortable from an outside perspective; a guest might have this colour blast in un-natural colored light in morning.
The striations on the outside of the building are too elemental and too numerous. This structure looks like it was from a design studio from a high schooler. The rounded top is such an un-interesting finish that I have to look at the nearest object to take my mind off this boring finish.
San Francisco is a conservative town when it comes to architecture and the lag in current architecture is a challenge to city planners; or perhaps eludes them.
Copyright – 2007 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez
Posted by jamesthewineguy 
