Inspired by the essay that appeared in the New York Times on the subject, I've been thinking about what buildings in Washington DC I'd like to see demolished, and replaced by pretty much anything else. After mulling the choices for a day, my list of terrible DC architecture follows:
1. The Hirschorn Museum - this circular concrete bunker has all the charm of a cinder block, and replaced a perfectly fine old brick building that once stood on the site.
2. The Kennedy Center - the white, gold and red colors are garish, and the boxy shape is uninspiring. Again, I would have preferred the arts center had simply restored the existing brick buildings of the Heurich Brewery that were originally located there.
3. The FBI Building - I wish they'd just move to a secure campus already, and give the huge lot over to commercial developers. When the FBI building was built, dozens of small businesses were displaced. It would be nice to get a little of that retail back.
4. Department of Energy/HUD/Department of Education - this trio of executive agency office buildings represents an architectural "axis of evil". Walking past any of these brutalist edifices simply deadens the soul.
5. The National Museum of American History - soon to emerge from an interior makeover, nothing can be done to liven up the bland exterior of this 1960s museum. It seems that everything that was built in the 60s and 70s is tainted by bad design or shoddy workmanship. The Fort McHenry flag and other artifacts deserve a better looking home.
There are obviously many, many more buildings that can be added to the list, but that's all I have time for now.
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No, I dislike McDonalds both architecturally, and food-wise. I stand by my comment that 1960s and 70s architecture is pretty bad. I prefer pre-WWII buildings. I've lived in the DC area for 17 years, and grew up on Long Island.
1. The administration building at the National Arboretum. Derivative and a little threadbare, but I still like it.
2. The 2nd St. entrance of the U.S. Tax Court. One of the few instances I can think of where brutalist monumentality really does evoke ancient forms and have dignity (the rest is awful, though).
I agree that the Army Medical Museum was the superior building, but I don't think the Hirschorn deserves to be lumped in w/monstrosities like the Hoover building - some of the gallery spaces are beautiful, and if the administration showed more imagination in the use of the courtyard and w/the landscaping, the elegance of aspects of the design would be more obvious.
Ryan (rockcreek)