[URBAN NOTE] I like the Crystal, now

[rfmcdonald]

This news item makes me feel protective about the Royal Ontario Museum's recent add-on, the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal.

A tourism website has named the Royal Ontario Museum's Crystal one of the world's Top 10 ugliest buildings.

VirtualTourist.com released its second annual list of the "World's Top 10 Ugly Buildings" on Friday. And the ROM addition, named after museum patron Michael Lee-Chin and designed by world-renewed architect Daniel Libeskind, slid in at No. 8.

[. . .]

Giampiero Ambrosi, general manager of VirtualTourist.com, said the buildings were chosen by the site's one-million-plus members and editors from a list of 30.

"The buildings picked are usually dated, or concrete blocks, weird glass cubes, weird appendages to buildings, or are a strange juxtaposition to the buildings around them," said Ambrosi, alluding to the ROM's traditional stone exterior and the Crystal's unusual and jarring angles. "It's extremely personal and subjective."

The initial list was chosen by members who travelled the world and submitted suggestions based on the buildings' aesthetic appeal, or lack thereof, he said. "Many of these buildings don't have the warmth of an ice cube while others don't even seem completed. Either way, they make for very interesting conversation," said Ambrosi.

I've photos of it here and here.

Looking east along Bloor Street at the ROM
Originally uploaded by rfmcdpei

Daffodils in the rain outside the ROM Crystal
Originally uploaded by rfmcdpei

I was of one opinion once. I really do think it deserves better, now.

(I'm sure I've other, even better, photos elsewhere. I wish I could find them.)