Hasta La Ideas

In this week’s comments update, readers discussed luxury car manufacturer Bugatti’s first foray into residential architecture.

Car brand Bugatti last week unveiled the design of a 42-storey skyscraper in Dubai that will have two garage-to-penthouse car lifts.

Developed in partnership with local developer Binghatti, the Bugatti Residences will be the first residential building branded with the Bugatti name. Dezeen readers were sceptical.

“Looks like something you chanced upon in Patrik Schumacher’s recycling bin”

Commenter AlfredHitchcock thought “Bugatti should stick to what they know and make beautiful cars”, while Nah lamented the absence of the “finesse and sophistication [that] they use in their car design”.

“Making an amorphous random blob is, especially in architecture, the laziest way to design,” wrote Javier Conejo. “It doesn’t require any knowledge or sophistication – particularly in this case where even the scaling finesse of a Zaha Hadid is absent.”

Conejo wasn’t the only commenter to have had a sense of déjà vu. “Zaha Hadid guys freelancing?” wondered Apsco Radiales.

Kumar Arvind offered a less flattering assessment: “Looks like something you chanced upon in Patrik Schumacher’s recycling bin.”

What are your thoughts on the Bugatti skyscraper? Join the discussion ›

“What are architects doing in that Line mess?”

Also igniting debate in the comments section this week was reports of a discussion with British architect Peter Cook, who is working on The Line mega city in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at an event to mark the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the wider Neom project in Venice, Cook called the height of the 500-metre-tall project “a bit stupid and unreasonable”, according to a report in the Architects’ Journal.

Commenters weren’t long pointing out other aspects of the project that they find unreasonable.

“So Cook wasn’t phased by the planned 100-plus mile-long buildings and the impact that they have on the area and its people, but was questioning the height of 120 stories?” commented Tim. “As with everything about this project, the big picture was missed and a detail was discussed.”

“What are architects doing in that Line mess, except probably making loads of lolly?” wrote Pa Varreon. “Interestingly Peter Cook seems to be, like Fuksas, moving far away from his 70s visionary projects. What a sad evolution.”

“It’s architects who are a bit stupid,” added Jb. “The Line is an abomination.”

Do Cook’s comments stand up? Join the discussion ›

“Non-architects are producing the most interesting architecture these days”

The residential YOO GYE skyscraper in Guayaquil, Ecuador, which developer Uribe Schwarzkopf is designing in collaboration with French designer Philippe Starck, has split commenter opinion.

Described by Starck as a “paradise”, the 176-metre-high skyscraper will be located alongside the Rio Guayas river, which runs through Ecuador’s largest city.

Romeo Reyes called the project a “brilliant display of Monsieur Starck’s design bravado”, while Kevin McGrath declared it “dreadful”.

“Very unusual,” commented Colin_MacGillivray. “Is this the first time a 46-storey tower has looked like it’s a seven-storey building perched on an eight-storey one?”

Jb was all for it. “Non-architects are producing the most interesting architecture these days, unhampered by dogma,” they commented.

Bravado or bust? Join the discussion ›

“Someone send this to Wes Anderson’s location scout”

Commenters were “charmed” by EBBA Architects’ transformation of a former jellied-eel restaurant on London’s Broadway Market into a shop for eyewear brand Cubitts.

Idracula called it “lovely”, while Jennifer Kay simply wrote: “Yum yum yum!”

“You can’t help but enjoy the warmth of the interior that is reflected in the rays in the stained glass window,” wrote Pickled.

“Someone send this to Wes Anderson’s location scout,” added Tom.

Are you a fan of the transformation? Join the discussion ›

Comments update

Dezeen is the world’s most commented architecture and design magazine, receiving thousands of comments each month from readers. Keep up to date on the latest discussions on our comments page and subscribe to our weekly Debate newsletter, where we feature the best reader comments from stories in the last seven days.

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