I came across this aptly entitled article, 'Em-Breuer-Ed', on the FreeTimes website a few days ago. Whilst not directly relevant to our construction studies, it is nevertheless a very sobering read on the politics and associated controversy that architecture and construction can create within a community.
Whilst the Marcel Breuer Tower is considered relatively significant, it is not quite old enough to be of great historical importance, but on the same note, this is far from a new building.
The future of the currently redundant reinforced concrete building, the only Breuer-designed skyscraper, is being heavily contested by the rash local planning commision and a number of concerned architects.
It is likely that the iconic building will be demolished, as a majority of the county commisioners see the building as inoperative with its smaller-than-usual floor plate. The associated cost of demolishing the structure and clearing the site, and replacing it with a more 'functional', modern building runs into the hundreds of millions of US dollars.
Economic issues aside, I find it hard to believe how some people, coincidently those of a local council, are willing to sacrifice beautiful, significant architecture in the name of gaining a few extra square-metres per floor level. Just astonishing..
(..reiterates my interpretation of councils as being a quite unique collection of rather senseless individuals.)
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