Energy Roof, COOP HIMMELB(L)AU Wolf D. Prix & Partner ZT GmbH, world architecture news, architecture jobs

19/01/10 Kevin, Boulder, CO

Ugly, ugly, ugly! As illustrated, this shows no respect for the local architectural vernacular, or for history buildings in the area.

26/01/10 DavWo, Auckland, NZ

I will mourn for the Perugia I lived in while at the Uni Per Stranieri if this monstrosity is allowed to proceed - do these guys have no sense of history or context?

26/01/10 Al, Los Angeles

After the school they designed here in Los Angeles (a real dissappointment), I do not understand why they still get major commissions. There is something negative about trying to be "cool" and different that gets in the way of sensibility and appreciation for (in this case) older buildings. Sometimes not being "cool" makes you "cool" They are just trying very hard.

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26/01/10 Kyle, Portland

I have enjoyed the work of these guys, their gut and instinct that they bring to their architectural solutions, but i think this is a little over the top and does not seem to align with that ethos. It screams intruder alert. The expressive solution should be beautiful and pleasing to the city and the history of the place, rather than a shock and awe. Just an opinion, I am sure it will become a tourist stop, but it is no Bilbao in my mind.

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26/01/10 Y.McNeill, Vancouver

As a heritage planner and architect and someone who's spent many happy months in Italy as both a student and vistitor, I'm intrigued at the juxtaposition between the old and new. Conservation principles would dictate that all new interventions should be distinct, yet compatible. "Compatible" holds many possible apporaches. The question that often arises is, has the historical value of the place been compromised or enhanced by the new intervention? I would argue that the "energy roof" is so distinct, so "unlike" the historical context that it brings the style and age of the surrouding buildings into sharp contrast. My eye is continually drawen back to the buidings. I wouldn't want to see more than one of these in the area, but as a "one off". It holds great interest and positively contributes to it's context. Having said that, work such as this succeeds or fails based on the quality of the details and construction. There is a "heaviness" about the connecting points to the surrounding roofs that might have been handled differently, but it could also just be the angle of the photograph. Either way, its a wonderful piece of sculptural sustainable architecture.

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26/01/10 Ck, Hamilton NZ

What an unsightly monstrosity. It looks like some alien creature devouring the history of the area. Its a sad day for architecture if this proceeds.

27/01/10 A.D., Sydney

I think it's a fantastic project - precisely because it doesn't pretend to be 'old' or 'respectful' to what's around it. It's a new intervention, and so it shouldn't have to defer to older, stylistic issues: perhaps more important is that it fulfills its function, and if this form does that, then does it really matter if it's different from what's around it?

I think you can't confuse stylistic tradition with a respect for context in terms of the way it functions - because it can be radically different visually and still function respectfully in its site.

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27/01/10 A.D., Sydney

I think it's a fantastic project - precisely because it doesn't pretend to be 'old' or 'respectful' to what's around it. It's a new intervention, and so it shouldn't have to defer to older, stylistic issues: perhaps more important is that it fulfills its function, and if this form does that, then does it really matter if it's different from what's around it?

I think you can't confuse stylistic tradition with a respect for context in terms of the way it functions - because it can be radically different visually and still function respectfully in its site.

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27/01/10 hudaas, karachi

seems like a 'made in china' kind of thing, too many functions and too little consideration for all the rest like aesthetics.

27/01/10 gp, NY

finally! this will surely put perugia on the architectural map.

28/01/10 Moto, Wimberley, TX

I like the idea of something distinctly different in a historical context like this, much better than somehow trying to look like part of what it isn't. But I have to admit this does look a bit like a poster shot for the latest rendition of "War of the Worlds".

29/01/10 Quest, Sydney

I think that it is cool. I mean why can't architecture be daring.
Why should heritage architecture imitate existing. I believe that juxtaposition of old and new here makes both parts stronger.

01/02/10 Mukhtar Khalil, Chicago, IL, USA

'Energy Roof' designed as architectural icon Nestled comfortably right in the heart . . . . . so starts the article for this monstrosity. Who are these maniacs designing such atrocious things and who is allowing them to be taken seriously. One does not design "as architectural icon . ", it becomes an icon if it is imbued with quality, sensivity to history and context. By this I don't mean one cannot innovate. Rest remains unsaid.

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'Energy Roof' designed as architectural icon

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