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For better or worse?

I happen to be walking down California Avenue near Stacks restaurant the other day and I noticed the sign showing the improvements to the building pictured below. Is it me or are these improvments  simply a way to make this building look generic rather than the way it looks today, which has a bit of an "edge" to it?

My friend, the late planning commissioner and architect Stan Vistica once said to me about architecture that good architecture either blends with its environment or stands out. I agree with him. These suggested improvements seem to make this building a medicore one. Unfortunately, the planning dept meeting regarding this design has come and gone and I am unaware of what transpired.

Decide for yourself whether throwing some eldorado stone on this building is the right thing to do.

Below: Building s it is today followed by the architectural sketch with the proposed improvements.

Cal ave real
Cal ave sketch

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6 responses to “For better or worse?”

  1. fred

    Please don’t take offense, but you could throw manure on this building and it would look better than it does now.

  2. Russ

    I respectfully disagree with you on this one, Fred. This building is unusual, yes.
    Admittedly, it’s not for everyone, but that is exactly the point of its architecture. I think you might call it Post Modern in style. I think it has elements that are streamlined and some that are surprising, like the window shapes. The new look simply gentrifies the building into something that neither blends with its environment nor does it stand out.
    The new “look” reminds me of a tilt up somewhere in a Fresno strip mall with ordinary, common windows and faux stone treatment.
    The location on a corner gateway should be treated like a special entrance that it is. Its neighboring building across the street also has a modern look, designed by Tony Carasco architects.
    If this building were located on a different corner, it would require a different look. For example, if it were located near the Spanish Revival train station, the architecture might want to reflect the architecture of that building.

  3. Holyroller

    This building looks like it was built in a day.
    If other building materials beside spray on Stucco, pre fab window and doors, and Battle Ship Greys were used it could have been something special.
    It looks as though the project started out as BauHaus. Then due to cost issues, turned into DaugHaus.
    I think it should be torn down.

  4. Anne

    Russ, thanks for your thoughtful commentary. Holy, you are cranky as ever. Just because you don’t like something, doesn’t mean that it should be torn down.
    Open your mind, open your heart. Something is not “wrong” solely because you do not agree with it. Different can be ok.

  5. fred

    When I said they could throw manure on this building and it would look better, I didn’t think they’d actually do it.
    Should of learned my lesson when I suggested the downtown could use more frozen yogurt shops.

  6. jennifer

    I don’t think it’s the color that is the main problem, it’s the peculiar change in elevation on just one side.

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