common wealth, the selfish way
they say it was pretty much the same in beijing, as in other venues of mega sporting events worldwide.
they say we will eventually pull it off... sure, it wont be perfect, but it would be grand. sure it wouldnt be the best in the world, but it would be nice...
disgusting.
theres a fundamental difference between what beijing was doing and what we are attempting. and it can be summed up in one word: ambition. china's ambition is to be no. 1, period. they wanted to create landmarks: events, buildings, cities, achievements. the birds nest. the aquatic centre. high quality design, superb construction, stunning iconic pieces. something that would live longer than the games, as would china's sporting medals, the most by a nation, easily defeating the us of a.
back to beloved dilli: nondescript stadiums being 'renovated' to strange standards, nothing remotely glamorous, classical (thank heavens!) or modern about them. NO design statements being made. no flourish. no jazz. nothing. the games village. i wouldn't wish my worst enemy to have to live there, from the looks of the renders (shudder to think what reality would be like!) extremely mediocre, and pathetically feeble.
the 'renovation and restoration' of connaught place. a paint job! what about trying the solve the crumbling services, the leaking watertanks, the fragmented ownership, the slums on the terraces, the need for parking space, the issues that really matter. why are we obsessed with showing the world a clean facade when reality is chaotic and decaying?
the best case scenario for dilli is that we will fool some fools into thinking that we are 'world class', which basically means that we are as stupid as everyone else. there is nothing indian, or culturally rich about anything that we are even attempting. the context of dilli, of one of the great civilisations of the world, is all being plastered behind crummy plaster of paris facades and a cheap but large airport. (for heavens sake, if you are still colonized, get a well known 'foreign' architect, not some cheap as chips reject from the far east!)
it was a great oppurtunity to do some good, not only for the country and the city, but also for our pride; the pride that comes out of work done well, solidly, and honestly. from winning medals, and being gracious hosts. from being global in our approach, and local in our flavour. from responding to the context of time, place and space.
what a shame, sheila.
they say we will eventually pull it off... sure, it wont be perfect, but it would be grand. sure it wouldnt be the best in the world, but it would be nice...
disgusting.
theres a fundamental difference between what beijing was doing and what we are attempting. and it can be summed up in one word: ambition. china's ambition is to be no. 1, period. they wanted to create landmarks: events, buildings, cities, achievements. the birds nest. the aquatic centre. high quality design, superb construction, stunning iconic pieces. something that would live longer than the games, as would china's sporting medals, the most by a nation, easily defeating the us of a.
back to beloved dilli: nondescript stadiums being 'renovated' to strange standards, nothing remotely glamorous, classical (thank heavens!) or modern about them. NO design statements being made. no flourish. no jazz. nothing. the games village. i wouldn't wish my worst enemy to have to live there, from the looks of the renders (shudder to think what reality would be like!) extremely mediocre, and pathetically feeble.
the 'renovation and restoration' of connaught place. a paint job! what about trying the solve the crumbling services, the leaking watertanks, the fragmented ownership, the slums on the terraces, the need for parking space, the issues that really matter. why are we obsessed with showing the world a clean facade when reality is chaotic and decaying?
the best case scenario for dilli is that we will fool some fools into thinking that we are 'world class', which basically means that we are as stupid as everyone else. there is nothing indian, or culturally rich about anything that we are even attempting. the context of dilli, of one of the great civilisations of the world, is all being plastered behind crummy plaster of paris facades and a cheap but large airport. (for heavens sake, if you are still colonized, get a well known 'foreign' architect, not some cheap as chips reject from the far east!)
it was a great oppurtunity to do some good, not only for the country and the city, but also for our pride; the pride that comes out of work done well, solidly, and honestly. from winning medals, and being gracious hosts. from being global in our approach, and local in our flavour. from responding to the context of time, place and space.
what a shame, sheila.
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