Slog - Comments on House of the Dead? http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118 Designed nearly decade ago by MVRDV, this building in Amsterdam is called WoZoCo's Apartments: and... A fine/interesting enough building. There is, however, one strange thing about WoZoCo's Apartments: it only houses elderly people. Why is this strange? Because the spirit of the architecture is youthful, enthusiastic, and even experimental--the very last things that constitute the spirit of much that has to do with old age. This building lacks death. It's too optimistic, like an irridenscent coffin, or a coffin shaped in some deconstructivist manner. Old people must live in grim structures; buildings that point not to this world of positive... Copyright 2008 Wed, 07 Feb 2007 14:21:26 -0800 Sat, 10 Feb 2007 13:18:06 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by josef charles, this apartment building reminds me of a morgue, with several body-drawers left open for new arrivals.

]]> josef http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618606 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618606 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 14:28:23 -0800 Comment by him It looks like air conditioners mounted upon giant air conditioners. The old folks feel comforted looking at the machinery that keeps them alive.

]]> him http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618609 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618609 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 14:29:49 -0800 Comment by Baxter My grandmother is in her nineties and I consider her to be very spirited. Not all retired people are just waiting around for death.

]]> Baxter http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618610 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618610 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 14:30:20 -0800 Comment by hmm Significance of this? Doesn't seem to be any. But, "buildings that point not to this world but the underworld in which they already have a foot in." What's with that, eh? 'In which they already have a foot in.' Indeed.

]]> hmm http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618657 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618657 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 14:39:50 -0800 Comment by SeattleExile Oh, Charles, really. Is there no place in your carefully-categorized world for such a basic architectural/ artistic idea as *contrast*?

The youthful architecture and the old inhabitants play off of each other, bringing attention to both. A youthful building bursting with young people is ultimately just as boring, homogenous, and forgetful as a bland box full of old bones.

]]> SeattleExile http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618714 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618714 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 14:49:38 -0800 Comment by Faux Show how strange looking. I think a younger crowd may not want to live there only because if they aren't in the "outward" apartments, their view will be blocked by the parts protruding from the building.

In somewhat related news, I found it interesting last weekend when I visited a cemetery in Everett and saw backed up to it was not only a trailer park..but also new apartments/condos. What a lovely view they must have, overlooking all those gravesites

blech. I hope rent is CHEAP!

]]> Faux Show http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618717 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618717 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 14:51:06 -0800 Comment by Matthew I can't wait for Charles to grow old. How bottomless can self-hate get? I hope we find out someday.

]]> Matthew http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618721 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618721 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 14:55:10 -0800 Comment by Sweeney Agonistes Right, because all old people do is sit around and wait to die.

]]> Sweeney Agonistes http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618729 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618729 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:01:13 -0800 Comment by Geni Charles, you have some bizarrely stereotyped ideas about what "old" people are like. The apartments most likely house those 55 and older. If you think most people in their late 50s are sitting around in rockers knitting, you are sadly misinformed.

Most of the people who live on my block are well over 70 years old. The couple across the street are in their 70s, and they ski, hike, jog, golf, and travel extensively. They're probably considerably more fit than you are.

The whole tone of the article is just ... dumb.

]]> Geni http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618749 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618749 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:16:09 -0800 Comment by michael strangeways wow, I know it can be hard to 'get' sarcasmn and irony but people, you need to wake up...

unless, charles means this, then he IS just being a jerk...

oh, and i like this building...it's so much more interesting than all these dull-ass, cheezy, metal barns being put up...

]]> michael strangeways http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618755 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618755 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:18:12 -0800 Comment by ............ Charles you are a bore as usual. Go listen to some Jamie Woon you dork.

]]> ............ http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618762 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618762 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:23:00 -0800 Comment by FinishTag 1. It's social (subsidized housing).
2. It's for people 55 and over, hardly crawling toward the grave.

3. Have you seen it person, Charles, cuz I'm kind of sick of you leafing through architecture magazines and going on and on about the pictures.

]]> FinishTag http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618771 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618771 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:30:24 -0800 Comment by cdc Faux Show @6:

I used to live across the street from a cemetery. I rather liked it; lots of greenery and, of course, very quiet.

]]> cdc http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618815 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618815 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:47:08 -0800 Comment by keshmeshi I'd rather have a view of a graveyard than a trailer park. Trailer parks are too depressing.

]]> keshmeshi http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618926 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618926 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 16:30:08 -0800 Comment by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me Right…
Old people should live in mausoleums
Black people should live in grass huts
Yellow people should live in pagodas
Brown people should live in tee pees
…everyone knows that.

]]> You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618950 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c618950 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 16:49:39 -0800 Comment by David Sucher I think Charles is allowed to write about buildings to provide unintended comedy.

]]> David Sucher http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c619100 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c619100 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 17:42:38 -0800 Comment by chris charles makes pronouncements about other people should live.

I say charles is an asshole who should shut the fuck up.

]]> chris http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c619213 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c619213 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 18:13:55 -0800 Comment by Gary What!

]]> Gary http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c619295 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c619295 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 18:55:18 -0800 Comment by celisea Charles, you need to see someone there - Dan??? - about your tri - weekly blow job needs.....sounds crass....well dear, you sound very frustrated and sexually repressed.

A better sex life will change your view about living a bit longer.....and the rewards of same.

Great building, shits and more shits of a commentary from all bound up Charlie.

Which might be a second problem....on top of the first.

]]> celisea http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c619566 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c619566 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 21:54:48 -0800 Comment by David WTF? Would you want to live in "grim structures" and "buildings that point not to this world of positive things but to the underworld of negative, annihilating forces" when you're a geriatric?

Read as hyperbole, the description is actually pretty funny. Otherwise it's just bizarre.

]]> David http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c619672 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c619672 Architecture Wed, 07 Feb 2007 22:52:08 -0800 Comment by Brian "what the authorities should do" ???
So we should have a police state and get them to kick the old people out put them in a dingy environment and glorify youth (which we do way to much off)

Why do you keep coming up with such fascist comments

]]> Brian http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c620456 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c620456 Architecture Thu, 08 Feb 2007 09:09:09 -0800 Comment by Morgan Happy Birthday Charles!

]]> Morgan http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c620867 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c620867 Architecture Thu, 08 Feb 2007 12:34:19 -0800 Comment by Dikki Anjensen How can anyone read a sentence like "Old people must live in grim structures" and not laugh out loud? I guess I could be way off but the more I read Mr. Mudede, the more I just think he is a very deadpan comic, and part of the shtick is the outraged comments. And I for one love it.

]]> Dikki Anjensen http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c624396 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c624396 Architecture Fri, 09 Feb 2007 15:47:39 -0800 Comment by Jamey ageist.

]]> Jamey http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c626183 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/post_118#c626183 Architecture Sat, 10 Feb 2007 13:18:06 -0800