Is Bay Lake Tower Really That Bad?

[jt04]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know who the architect of record for the BLT is? Disney has a storied history of using preeminent architects to design some of their buildings, and the results more often than not, spoke for themselves.

I understand people don't like the Swan and the Dolphin (I'm an architecture student, and I don't like them) but they were designed by Michael Graves, one of the best alive, and there is some really neat architectural playfulness that is lost on non-architecture people, which in my opinion, makes it fail as a design. The same playfulness can be seen in the Team Disney Building in Anaheim. Frank Gehry (don't get me started on him, he is such a paradox) designed Festival Disney at DLP and while I have never been there, it looks like an extremely neat space. He also designed the Disney Concert Hall in LA (which looks eerily similar to the Guggenheim). Peter Dominick did an amazing job on the WL. Robert A M Stern designed a few of the best themed hotels in the world in the Yacht and Beach Clubs and the Boardwalk Hotel. Charles Gwathmey did the convention center at the Contemporary, which I know most people don't like, but I find it interesting. Cesar Pelli, Graves, Robert A M Stern, Venturi Scott Brown, all did buildings for Celebration. PHILIP FREAKIN JOHNSON, for crying out loud, (for anyone who doesn't know the guy was a stud, he was every bit as good if not better, than Frank Lloyd Wright) even designed for Disney, completing the Town Hall in Celebration.

I guess my point is, that if Disney can get Pritzker Prize (the Nobel Prize of architecture) winners to design buildings for them, who allowed the BLT to be built in it's current location and configuration. While it does provide a nice counterpoint to the A-frame, it's location, size, material choice, orientation, among many other issues, were choices that do not seem to be made in the best interest of the design.

Based on their past, TDC has usually been very proactive when it came to groundbreaking, innovative, and "absurd" (I use it in a good way) architecture, and employing those architects who are able to provoke and summon such amazing and awe-inspiring built spaces.

I am extremely curious as to who the architect of design and architect of record are for the BLT.

Martin, I'm guessing you know.

Just to add my 2 cents before Martin, the new building is built to sell views of the MK and also easy access to the MK (easy walking distance). It's really function over form but to me they did as good a job with the architecture as they could. And I believe Disney would have built even higher except for the sightlines from the MK. All in all I think the style of the building is just about as good as could be hoped for.

PS- very informative and interesting post BTW 20k.

 

[Chroniq]

The firm who designed bay lake tower is the same that constructed the Contemporary convention center. You can see striking similiarities in shape between the two buildings. Gwathmey and Siegel. They won an award for the design of the convention center. They also famously leaked the Bay Lake Tower design on their website before construction even began on it.

A link --http://www.gwathmey-siegel.com/portfolio/proj_detail.php?job_id=198912

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

An award? It looks like an aircraft hanger.

 

[Missing20K]

The firm who designed bay lake tower is the same that constructed the Contemporary convention center. You can see striking similiarities in shape between the two buildings. Gwathmey and Siegel. They won an award for the design of the convention center. They also famously leaked the Bay Lake Tower design on their website before construction even began on it.

A link --http://www.gwathmey-siegel.com/portfolio/proj_detail.php?job_id=198912

It is Gwathmey/Siegel? I did notice similarities but didn't know if it was just a new architect using existing elements. Wow, I have to say I'm quite surprised, as it just does not seem up to the standards of even their own firm. I will reserve final judgement until I'm able to see it and walk through the spaces in person, as that is truly the only way to experience a building, but based on pictures and material, orientation, and other design choices, I am surprised they were the firm.

That's not to say they could not have been budget restrained, which nearly every architect is for every design, because the client will always have the final say, but in my opinion, it's a surprising design coming from such a reputable firm (though personally I've never been "wowed" by their designs). From what I can see so far, BLT is not nearly as successful a design as the convention center to which it is adjacent.

P.S. Thanks for the compliment and info, jt04, this topic is right in my wheelhouse.

 

[EpcotServo]

DVC hatrer. :ROFLOL:

We know. It is ok.

It could be God's own Hoola Hoop for all I care, it's still ugly.
:lol:

 

[Missing20K]

An award? It looks like an aircraft hanger.

For better or worse most convention centers do.

San Diego

Sacramento

A lot goes into architecture awards that goes beyond their exterior appearance. The way the building is used, efficiency, interior spaces, project management, use of particular materials, construction techniques, the list goes on and on. I'm not saying it should or should not have won an award, simply stating that most awards are given on the merits of many qualifications, not simply based on whether it's an "attractive" building from the exterior.

Lighten up, we can't all live in Europe surrounded by centuries and millenia old buildings that were pivotal in how humans use space. Lucky.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

It could be God's own Hoola Hoop for all I care, it's still ugly.
:lol:

How dare you question God's taste in hoola hoops! He looked at ALL the other ones at Toys-R-Us first before choosing this!

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

For better or worse most convention centers do.

San Diego

Sacramento

A lot goes into architecture awards that goes beyond their exterior appearance. The way the building is used, efficiency, interior spaces, project management, use of particular materials, construction techniques, the list goes on and on. I'm not saying it should or should not have won an award, simply stating that most awards are given on the merits of many qualifications, not simply based on whether it's an "attractive" building from the exterior.

Lighten up, we can't all live in Europe surrounded by centuries and millenia old buildings that were pivotal in how humans use space. Lucky.

Hey Im Scottish, look at our Parliament building,

jars just a tad with this building across the street (literally)

Nothing wrong with modern architecture, in the right context, look at Dubai or even the Gherkin in London. That said Berlin is my favourite city after Edinburgh, and it does do a great mix of old (if you can class Speers buildings as old) and new.

 

[MissM]

Having seen it about once a month as it's been built (FL resident AP'er) I have to say the building itself looks better than the artist renderings. Especially now that so much of the scaffolding is coming down.

That said, I really hate it's placement. I don't think it ties in with the Contemporary at all. It just looks like two, large, sorta lumpy hotels next to each other. There's no connection. If they were similarly themed, or shaped it might look complementary but right now it just looks...awkward.

Also, there are several points in the park where you can now see not only the Contemporary, but BLT as well. (Notably Tomorrowland and certain angles of Main Street.) It's a little distracting to see two different hotels from within MK and I wish they'd bring in some tall trees or something to help block the view.

BLT is a nice enough looking building. Just should have gone somewhere else entirely.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Also, there are several points in the park where you can now see not only the Contemporary, but BLT as well. (Notably Tomorrowland and certain angles of Main Street.) It's a little distracting to see two different hotels from within MK and I wish they'd bring in some tall trees or something to help block the view.

Don't forget that you can see both towers from parts of Liberty Square. :hurl:

I don't think the building looks especially horrible. However, I really don't like how BLT alters the panorama of Seven Seas Lagoon. The view from Poly and GF across the water just isn't the same, because BLT is so huge.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

No, its not that bad. Overall, its a mildly attractive building that, I think, is just in a bad location. :shrug:

 

[Missing20K]

Hey Im Scottish, look at our Parliament building,

jars just a tad with this building across the street (literally)

Nothing wrong with modern architecture, in the right context, look at Dubai or even the Gherkin in London. That said Berlin is my favourite city after Edinburgh, and it does do a great mix of old (if you can class Speers buildings as old) and new.

Yeah that is quite the juxtaposition. And there is indeed nothing wrong with modern architecture. All architecture was modern at one point or another. The real determining factor, in my opinion, is whether the design is successful, based on variables as wide and varied as aesthetic appeal, use, timelessness, efficiency of materials, efficiency of energy, efficiency of use, material use, construction technique, site preparation, orientation, etc., etc., etc.

Architecture is sort of like holistic medicine, in that you must keep in mind the whole of the design and how each part affects the whole in order to be successful. Occasionally, juxtaposition of modern and "old-world" architecture can be quite compelling, such as the Bilbao, or the dome on the Riechstag in your favorite city, or countless examples in Scandanavia (those people seem to love design).

It's funny we are discussing juxtaposition of old and new architectural styles on a Disney forum, as they have done a wonderful job seemlessly blending architectural styles within the parks in such a way that the average guest, and even Disneyana fans, don't notice when one style ends and the other begins. Not quite "old" versus "new" but certainly one style juxtaposed with another. One of the biggest reasons I got into architecture was because of Disney theme park design. Just another reason I am really quite surprised in BLT's overall design.

 

[jmuboy]

BLT doesn't look that bad at all. However, if another tower goes up on the other side of the A frame, it may balance it out a little better.

In my perfect armchair imagineer world, both garden wings would have been torn down and replaced with a BLT type C-Shape structure on both sides of the A-Frame tower. Except these DVC towers would top out around 8 stories.

 

[nbodyhome]

The 7th photo down on this page won me over:
http://jefflangedvd.com/2009/02/con...agic-kingdom-parade-dvd-sneek-peek/#more-1723

From a distance, in the sunset, it seems to be quite nice by my tastes. And I was pretty scathing of the idea when it first appeared.

Dirk

I'd taken the photos and video on Jeffs site, and have been taking pics of the BLT when it was just dirt. (DVC dirt, as someone once said!)

I did not like the BLT plans when I first saw the renderings - and I still prefer the smaller wings flanking the main tower. But the BLT has grown on me, and the views of the MK will be incredible.

One of the biggest complaints I've seen is that you can see the BLT from inside the MK. But the CR is pretty tall and visible from some areas of the park as well. I am curious to see what they call the main building now - you can't really call it a tower anymore.

Denise

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Having seen it about once a month as it's been built (FL resident AP'er) I have to say the building itself looks better than the artist renderings. Especially now that so much of the scaffolding is coming down.

That said, I really hate it's placement. I don't think it ties in with the Contemporary at all. It just looks like two, large, sorta lumpy hotels next to each other. There's no connection. If they were similarly themed, or shaped it might look complementary but right now it just looks...awkward.

Also, there are several points in the park where you can now see not only the Contemporary, but BLT as well. (Notably Tomorrowland and certain angles of Main Street.) It's a little distracting to see two different hotels from within MK and I wish they'd bring in some tall trees or something to help block the view.

BLT is a nice enough looking building. Just should have gone somewhere else entirely.

Tomorrowland I don't mind but Main Street I do care. The Exposition Hall was built full size so that you couldn't see Contemporary from MS. If you can see this new thing from anywhere on the street then that's another example of how poorly this new thing has been placed. Agree with your points entirely.

 

[MousDad]

Hey Im Scottish, look at our Parliament building,

jars just a tad with this building across the street (literally)

Now that's what I call messing with the backstory. :lol:

 

[dvcnut39]

I think the new tower looks awesome!! My family went through the DVC preview center and I can't wait to stay there. It may become my new favorite.

Even though we haven't been through the preview center in a while, I completely agree with you. Can't wait to stay (don't tell the wife :zipit:- maybe buy) there.

 

[Enderikari]

This is a new building attached to one of the most iconic, recognizable structures at Walt Disney World,

Really? A gigantic concrete toaster is more iconic and recognizable than Cinderella Castle, or Spaceship Earth?

Say it with me now...


Giant....

Concrete....

Toaster....

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Really? A gigantic concrete toaster is more iconic and recognizable than Cinderella Castle, or Spaceship Earth?

Say it with me now...


Giant....

Concrete....

Toaster....

He said "one of" not "THE DEFINITIVE".

 

[Dayma]

I really do not like it anywhere they would have put it. No character to me.