Miscellaneous Forum

So, as many of you know, a few times a year we do press releases about buildings (beautiful buildings, ugly buildings, etc.). It's just about time to do a "beautiful" list, but I thought I'd try to shake it up a bit and see if we can get a list going of "Sexiest" buildings. I'm not sure whether this will work out as a release, but we can try.

I think I'll go with the U.N. building in New York. I've just always liked the lines of it and the sort of slick vibe it has. I hated it when I was growing up (probably too many class trips), but now I just love it.

OK, gang--your turn!
C

This is probably a boring answer, but: Sydney Opera House! Together with the harbour and the bridge - I can't think of anything more sexy.

Well, to meet your criteria it would be easy (and cliche) to use towers for their obvious phallic character, but I would nominate the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art. I am very appreciative of fine architecture. This particular building possesses very masculine lines. I took a very chance photo of it in 2006. It is in my page below ( http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/p/m/485d94/ ). I believe it is the finest photo I have ever taken. Just the right time of the evening. The sky was cobalt blue and the lighting on the building was just right.

<<Well, to meet your criteria it would be easy (and cliche) to use towers for their obvious phallic character, >>

Exactly! I'm looking for buildings that people find sexy just because they do--not because there's any particular symbolism.

In my opinion, nothing has a more modern, sleek, smooth and flashy appearance than the Disney Hall in Los Angeles, California, USA. Frank Gehry, architect of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, really went over the top with this futuristic stainless steel beauty. It is the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and rightly so, as the acoustics are unparalleled, offering the audience a rare purity of sound from the musical instruments. An eyestopper for sure, Disney Hall is one sexy lady.

I haven't a clue what would qualify as a "sexy" building, but I'd say, The Hotel de Crillon in Paris is a sexy building to my way of thinking.

Strong on the outside and gloriously beautiful inside.

If a nice guy I liked, took me there, I would most likely be, "In the mood."

Casa Batlló in Barcelona, Spain

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2006/03/29/tor-condo-tower060329.html

Critics hail 'sensuous' Mississauga tower

Christopher Hume of the Toronto Star, called it stunning and sensuous, dipping and curving "in all the right places."

Images at:

http://www.google.ca/images?hl=en&q=mississauga%20towers&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi

the gurkin in london looks like a giant dildo, but i'm not sure it's that kinda sexy you are looking for :O)

Agree with you Antonello, Casa Batllo is sexy with its vegetal shapes and reminders.
To me, there's lots of sexuality in wooden houses, houses in the woods, wooden furniture, fireplaces, burning wood... Near water makes it all the more powerful, lake, river, stream, fall, moss.
So I'll choose the Grand Chalet in Rossiničre, a mountain village in the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland. The Chalet was the last house of the painter Balthus. I visit Vevey often and the trip from nearby Montreux to Rossiničre is breathtaking. Then you reach the village and the Grand Chalet bowls you over!

I recently saw a documentary where an architect talked about the need for architecture and environment/ecology to balance out. His examples were good and striking. At the same time, on VT Forum, a new hotel was shown in South-East Asia that was impressive but also, the opposite of what this man was saying. Steel and huge don't seem sexy to me but the trickle of a creek by a chalet, yes. The man on the doco spoke from Melbourne and his name sounded like Mick Spick.

cave dwellings seem sexy to me. Anything warm and refuge-like I guess. I'm a dinosaur! :)

Interesting how diverse these choices are, isn't it?

Keep 'em comin'!

I'm going to say the French Market Inn on Decatur Street in New Orleans. It's hundreds of years old. There is an aura about it, almost as if the building is alive. The courtyard is full of flowers and vines and palmetto palms, lizards scurrying up the brick walls. There are fountains shaped like lion's heads gurgling water day and night. Everything is decorated in red velvet and gold and heavy mahogany furniture. And in the darkness, in the corners of the rooms and hallways, you feel like you could lose yourself and fade into another world--especially with someone you find attractive.

Sean, the first thing that hit my mind as well was that this is easy, as any "skyscraper" type of building would have a phallic symbolism. (Men!, hmm)

I will agree with Larry, in that amongst the many many failed noir or modern style buildings, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, in Los Angeles, is a symbol of success in such architectual style. I absolutely love it. Take a look:

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&q=Walt+Disney+Concert+Hall&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

As for the image of phallic symbols being the first thing we thought of......Dubai definately has some serious "size matters" issues?

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Tallest+building+Dubai&aq=f&aqi=g1g-m1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

ha, ha! Erik, I knew you would answer this particular question!!!

Yes Antonello...that's the one! The casa batllo is certainly the most gorgeous 'sexiest' building I can think of :o)

Nice pic Ron! :o) That conveys to me serenity.

Speaking of Dubai Erik... that sailboat building is quite sexy I reckon.

Sydney Opera house for me.

Reckon so! I assume you mean this one.....it does have some flair.

http://princejabakumar.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/worlds-tallest-tower.jpg

I guess the "house of rising sun" in the French Quarter of New Orleans. That is one "sexy" building.

From what I am told, the building in my pp has a "sexy" reputation going back more than 300 years.

Thanks Lou and Ann for sharing my view :)
Antoni Gaudí did splendid works. Combining the sensuality of Art Nouveau curved lines and the puzzling patterns and colors of broader Modernism, he created intriguing harmony that I can contemplate for hours.

Yep, that's the one Erik. What a gorgeous pic mate!!

I'm trying to stay out of this but I'm a big Gaudi fan, too! (I don't know how to make the slash over the "i" here!)

Is Casa Batllo (sp) the signature early 20th. century Gaudi masterpiece?

For me that must be a Jugendstil, Art Deco or modernist building.
Let's do 3 Dutch entries:

Sexiest door I saw in a long time is Rams Woerthe house in Steenwijk, province Overijssel, The Netherlands. It's a Unesco heritage site.

Another favourite of mine would be Hubertus Hunting Lodge in Park Hoge Veluwe, The Netherlands, built by Berlage. Perfect Art Deco architecture, styling, interior and furniture.

And finally, a 1930s villa for a coffee merchandiser in Rotterdam. It's the Sonneveld house which is still furnished like it was then (Gispen). But it has a completely modern feel to it. In fact, you could move in immediately and feel at home and comfortable. The lines and light are simple divine.

Curious? Well, I'm not advertising. You know how to search VT ;-)

Was up in Milwaukee this weekend and visited the Art Museum which has wings that open and shut at opening and closing time and do both at noon. Very interesting and unique building. The view from downtown going toward the museum reminded me of the tail of a large whale. The opening and closing reminded me of butterfly wings.

Just started building Milwaukee pages. But for those of you who are interested in my Milwaukee choice here is a link to the picture of the Art Museum.

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/f8615/daf8d/

Linda, regards your words:<"The Hotel de Crillon in Paris is a sexy building to my way of thinking.">, may be right, as it charges like it should have a red light on the entry way.

The colors and the shapes that make up the Blue Mosque at Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan is sexy.

i like any Bauhaus building, because its right to the point.