SKETCHES FROM WHEREVER

recently a building was completed and now stands as the tallest in the world. it's an impressive feat of engineering. i'm sure some praises are due. but with all the forethought and skill required to make something like this stand i've never really been impressed by this particular architecture. to build something tall for the sake of building something tall seems a bit arrogant and tacky. i wonder how this building addresses the environment? how does it address the community? a structure built on the backs of slaves by a country now in a tremendous amount of debt. i cannot seem to understand the appeal. the allure to this architectural culture.

but the other day something happened. something switched on. or off. i'm not sure yet. it felt almost like a chill running down my spine. it was subtle but it was enough to get my attention. it happened while i was downtown. i was noticing the city skyline. how suddenly uninteresting it appeared to me. the lack of impressive architecture. of tall architecture. i began to resent the thought that buildings have remained a certain height so the homes on the west hills could maintain their view of mount hood. for a moment i had an unfamiliar lust for the built form. like howard roark in the fountainhead. i wanted to see massive and impressive buildings. buildings that expressed both power, beauty, and progress. in a city noted for being so creative it sure wasn't represented in its architecture.

and then the chill left and i couldn't help but smile. i felt like i was beginning to understand why tall buildings are built.