Being the architect, Tom thought it would be good to show “what not to do.” One of Tom's favorite architectural critics is not an architect at all. In fact, he is a bit of a kook to some. But once a month, he likes to poke a finger in the eye of architects. And, for the most part, he gets it right. Here is this month’s architectural eyesore: The Hespeler Library of Cambridge, Ontario.
“The original building was constructed in 1923 with funds from the Carnegie endowment; it was expanded in 1981.
In 2007, the City of Cambridge decided to expand the library yet again. The city specified that the winning design must “preserve the historic nature of the building.”
Phew, no radical changes to the original building, right? Wrong!!
Apparently, additions that “compliment the original architecture” do not win design awards. So the solution was simple: build a giant glass box around the original building. Ta da! The old building is "preserved" and the architect wins an award for Design Excellence from the Ontario Architects Association in 2008!
(PHOTO: WHAT THEY COVERED UP)Everyone wins except the occupants. The triple glazed wall panels were apparently "value-engineered" out of the project in favor of cheaper double glazed panels that has a poorer ability to mitigate heat loss/gain during cold overcast/sunny weather respectively.” – James Kunstler
(VIEW FROM INSIDE THE GLASS FRONT OF THE BUILDING)
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