Iconic Landmarks or Dated Gimmicks-Architectural Photos around the Globe

Over the past 15 years as an active Broker Associate in Sales I have worked with a number of residential and commercial property developers and buyers whose visions range from mundane, radical & eccentric. I have developed an ever growong appreciation for architecture that can stand the one true defining variable: Time !

When assessing a commercial or residential building they are many variable to consider however, Time, Space and Environment are the three that seem to carry the load. Look at these photos and decide for yourself  Will they stand the test of time ? Do they have a congruity within the environment, is it a timeless sense of space. Architectural Iconic Landmark or Soon-to-be Gimmick Again….You decide !

Until Next Time…..

We see city councils approving mediocre design and we see cities looking uglier because of it. We see property developers rushing to get their building up, wanting to make a quick sale and profit, and not really caring or thinking about the aesthetics of the building.

Does the building enhance the surrounding area or make it worse? Will the building still look great 10, 15 or 20 years from now? Will it become an iconic landmark and a beloved site, or will it become a dated gimmick?

What will the resale value be down the track? Will anyone want to live in or buy property like it?

Property developers — and city councils — need to wake up and realize their influence on the cityscape and take that role seriously. This is the case not just for residential development — the same applies to office buildings, hotels and all public buildings in general.

As a developer and as a city council, do you want to be known as an organization that values and understands design and creates iconic developments? Or will you be known as the ones who created eyesores, or worse, caused a devaluation of an entire area or neighborhood?

The aesthetic of a building should be the Number One priority. There is not much point in creating and promoting beautiful interiors when the exterior tells a different story. The whole building should tell a cohesive story.

So many developers do not see the value, or even think about the aesthetics of the car park, for example. Would it hurt to splash some colour and graphic design on the concrete? Would it hurt to make the lifts and foyer more like those of a great hotel and less like a jail or a warehouse?

If a building is desirable and unique, and offers something truly beautiful, trust us, consumers WILL buy. It’s a no brainer, yet so many buildings keep going up that do the absolute minimum. They may tick off a few boxes and get the interior right, but not the rest. It’s not enough.

Every day, I am inundated with material from Brokers and developers about new projects. So, over the past years, I have seen everything. And believe me, so have consumers.

The internet has opened everyone’s eyes to what is possible. People browse sites all over the globe, they learn, they engage in design. Design is no longer a closed shop. It is everyone’s.

Take design seriously now and you will be glad you did.