Sensationalist 'Lara Croft' Architecture Damages Cities

Deyan Sudjic laments the popularity of "icon" architecture such as the works for Frank Gehry and Santiago Calatrava but suggests that the style is about to fade away.

1 minute read

October 30, 2003, 8:00 AM PST

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"In the week that Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Hall opened in LA, Deyan Sudjic argues that the frantic drive for every new building to eclipse the last is at the expense of designing places that actually work...This is the way to an architecture of diminishing returns in which every sensational new building must attempt to eclipse the last one...The effect of all this image building is just as damaging to the architects as to the cities that commission them... Form doesn't follow function any more, form follows image."

Thanks to Richard Layman

Sunday, October 26, 2003 in The Observer

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Yellow electric school bus with preteen students exiting.

California Invests Additional $5M in Electric School Buses

The state wants to electrify all of its school bus fleets by 2035.

April 25 - Associated Press

City Hall building in Austin, Texas.

Austin Launches $2M Homelessness Prevention Fund

A new grant program from the city’s Homeless Strategy Office will fund rental assistance and supportive services.

April 25 - Spectrum Local News

Brick school building with mid-sized tree on front lawn.

Alabama School Forestry Initiative Brings Trees to Schoolyards

Trees can improve physical and mental health for students and commnity members.

April 25 - Governing