Who Cares About Architecture?
In Toronto, as in all cities, there are two camps, those who care about architecture and those who don't notice a thing. Fortunately those who do care are a vocal bunch, whether blogging or putting the word out publicly. If you're the caring kind too there's a new place for you to make your opinion count. The Pug Awards (formerly the Pugly Awards but now with a cute little pug-faced icon) offers a slick new website where all of Toronto can get involved in the state of architecture by way of a vote. They post the latest building projects and you pick whether you think the design deserves FAME or SHAME. By June 6th votes are tallied for a celebrated best and worst of Toronto architecture list.
Not sure how to judge? The Pug Awards, now in its fifth year, offers up some advice to voting novices. In this competition originality is king - no more brick boxes - it's gotta have the fresh factor and add something to it's surroundings. Interaction at street level is also integral - who needs another condo with built-in strip mall?
Last year the site registered 5000 votes and hopefully registered on the minds of developers working to build up a beautiful city. Hall of shamers include a growing list of condo developments while some of the favs are the National Ballet School and Calatrava's BCE Place Atrium. However, I can't help but think that our opinions often change over the years, even if we offer resistance initially. Many of us were astonished by OCAD's new addition when it first sprouted up. I'll admit now it's grown on me.
Love to hear from you too. What are your favourite examples of architecture and which buildings do you think Toronto could live without?
Comments (10)
In Toronto, as in all cities, there are two camps, those who care about web site design and those who don't notice a thing.
It truly is a bad site. Why should I have to turn my head to see who the nominees are? Absolutely no thought put into function.
Agree... that is a horrible site.
Hard to navigate, way too over the top for something that should be sweet and simple.
Total turn off.
Fuck buildings.
Does anyone know anything about the 'Pug Ed' seminars as described on the website? It doesn't really offer much information at all about it...
If there were a website about bad website design, this site would surely be on that list.
^ http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/
"Learn good design by looking at bad design"
If you really think they should include it, let 'em know.
I agree. The Pug Awards site is a bit messy and offers little navigational control. Was annoyed too that their archives are off-line and many of their links, including one to blogTO are broken (they said they were working on it about a week ago).
So, perhaps that should've been the spin - a site exploring the best and worst in city design, function and public interaction doesn't take this same criteria to heart when creating their own public and interactive site. Still, I think these awards serve an important function and that outweighed any frustration with the site.
Just to get the architecture debate up and running I'll offer up my fav building of the year: The Gardiner Museum, pictured above.
Funny... I was just joining the discussion to say what has already been said. Forget the architecture, that's one poorly designed web site!
Not what I'd expected to hear, but thanks for your comments anyway. Suppose I should change the title to Who Cares About Web Design? or maybe make some future posts centered on that theme.
I might be a little biased, but I do love the MaRS building at College and University. Last year, I think it got 2nd place behind the ballet school.
And, strangely, you can't find that info on the website... so I am going to 100th that motion that their site is frustrating.
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