Readers' quizzical reactions to the moving facade of a new arts and culture centre in Shanghai by Foster + Partners and Heatherwick Studio leads this week's comments update.
All a facade: Foster and Heatherwick's new Shanghai theatre features "a moving veil which adapts to the changing use of the building", prompting a discussion about style versus substance.
Abhi was unconvinced. "Beautiful detailing and mechanism. But for what" Clearly overdesigned."
"Overdesigned" The idea covers the context just fine with no loose ends. It's calm and strong at the same time," responded Ercan Çelikk?ran.
Bradley Schott wasn't ready to judge this book by its cover. "It sure is pretty, but if it's just a bunch of concrete columns and slabs underneath, then it is really a fundamentally ordinary building with a pretty facade." One regular commenter felt the building is an improvement on Heatherwick's last collaboration ? Google's London HQ. "Overall a much better collaboration than with BIG," wrote H-J.
"Looks like a pipe organ - perhaps it plays tunes." added Geofbob lightheartedly.
The design reminded one reader of the theories of architects Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown:

What do you make of Foster + Partners and Heatherwick Studio's collaboration" Have your say in the comments section ?

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