I loved Paris: the whole Napoleon III/Haussmann hallucinatorium. Unfortunately, Paris is also the possessor of (easily) the most hideous architectural mistake on the planet.
I’d never previously been made queasy just by looking at a building, but in this case . . .
The architects should have been guillotined on the spot.
You may not know that the joint architect of the Pompidou Centre is the designer of the new Tower 3 at Ground Zero:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/richard-rogers-the-lord-of-all-he-surveys-403946.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/175_Greenwich_Street
He's matured a little since the 1970's, so it's possibly as well that he wasn't beheaded as you suggest, although the prosecution could point to the Lloyds of London building (Pompidou-esque - you either love it or hate it), the Millennium Dome at Greenwich (Grrrrr - no comment) and the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow Shopping Mall (sorry, Airport). In his defence he pedestrianised the north side of Trafalgar Square for which, in my opinion, he thoroughly deserves to be allowed to live.
Also this man is the husband of the woman who co-owns and co-runs one of the most famous restaurants in London, and by all accounts he bankrolled it in its early days. If he'd been rendered sans tête London would be a gastronomically poorer place:
http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1996/07/22/1996_07_22_025_TNY_CARDS_000375728
http://www.rivercafe.co.uk
If you ever get to London go and have a meal there. I promise it'll be one of your more memorable repasts, and it won't break the bank (although you'll need to book).
Assisi,
ReplyDeleteWho ARE you? The erudite nature of your observations is only marked by its relative paucity in these here parts. Since I can’t display your profile I can only assume you’re an International Man of Mystery. Or is it woman?
But I must repeat my prognosis of the Pompidou Centre . . . it’s about as appropriate in Paris as a giant satellite in the shape of a peace sign in orbit, piloted by Tom Cruise . . . although Vidal Sassoon might approve, I certainly don’t . . .
And London . . . I remember London. I used to go to Charterhouse in Surrey and of course our main diversion was London . . . but it’s a bit rich for my blood now!
Yes, who the hell ARE you? Whoever you are, you’re a smart kid . . . and I appreciate that! Like I say, paucity . . .
I was at Ground Zero last year. Nothing going on there, but maybe there shouldn’t be.
And speaking of architectural mistakes (well, you got me started, didn’t you!) that horror . . . just thinking of it makes me recoil . . . that horror of a glass pyramid in front of the Louvre . . . the French got a lot right but some of their loose cannons should have been shot from cannons . . .
At any rate, I’ll delightedly be in your part of the hemisphere in ten days, in my beloved Bordeaux. So, no meals in London for me, but if you’re in the vicinity, do come on down. I’m sure we’ll have quite a chat . . .