Calatrava is Italian as far as I know, not Spanish. He designed our "Bridge of Strings' that is remeniscent of a harp to take the light rail line tracks over a major and complex intersection at the West End of downtown Jerusalem. I think is it a beautiful and useful bridge. It does have a protected, fended from the tracks, pedestrian walkway. I don't know how I would react to the "Oculus," and with changes in design, Calatrava may disclaim responsibility anyway.
I have not seen it in person, but I impression of the new Stillwell Avenue, Coney Island Station is that it is just fine, very remeniscent of the classic trainsheds. Still has eight tracks and four platformss.
The guys stuff looks as if it belongs on the set of an Alien movie. It does not seem to reflect anything about the city.
Lets cut NYC a break. This is a Port Authority fiasco; they've proven that they don't give a damn about people, it just has to look good.
Maybe the homeless are there to admire the "pretty" view.
Yeah I am not a fan of that Spanish Caltrava Architect either. Folks think his designs are just architectural beauty and to me they look like crap AND THEY ARE PROLIFERATING EVERYWHERE in the United States. They have some cool looking modern bridges in Europe that Caltrava never got near. We need to expand our horizons a little when it comes to Architecture, in my humble opinion.
I like the retro back to old European Style architecture approach. When that is used I always think it looks classy.
KC Union Station is a beautiful restore and it even has an active Harvey's Lunch Counter in the main lobby.
The Oculus is in the northern (left) block of the two Hudson Terminal blocks.
Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder!
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
If I was Homeless New York City is the last place I would want to be homeless. Being homeless in the woods of North Carolina seems more ideal with the right skills one could live for years.
Actually, the Oculus is a high end shopping mall which has a major subway station in it. I can't even afford to window shop there. And I do agree, it is ugly. Also, be careful not to trip over homeless people as you get near the place. NYC can blow $4B on a subway station but can't do anything for a homeless person. Wait a minute...fancy building attract tourists. Homeless people don't. Money---that is what it is all about.
Firelock76 You could have bought a "Nimitz" class aircraft carrier for that.
You could have bought a "Nimitz" class aircraft carrier for that.
That would make an interesting commute!
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
What you are refering to is called the Oculus, which connects the PATH (interstate subway) on the west to several NYC Subway lines to the east. The initial design had more of the skeletor ribs, but thinner than what was built. The FDNY mandated several design changes for fire safety; the designer threw hissy-fits, but learned that, in NYC, the FDNY usually wins.
If you like the Oculus, and would like one for your city, it cost only $4 Billion dollars. Imagine, $4 Billion dollars for a subway station.
Let's see, the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) was built through cemeteries at the point where it crosses the Des Plaines River; a small cemetery was relocated for the recent expansion of O'Hare Field; the south end of Lincoln Park was a cemetery prior to the Chicago Fire, etc., etc., etc.
I feel like I was walking thru a skeleton which in itself is bad taste consdiering the new World Trade Center was built on ground where there are remains of people. (So was the old WTC which a colonial graveyard had to be moved for the WTC.
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