For those who are interested in knowing how to build timeless architecture, they must read “Timeless Way of Building” by Sir Christopher Alexander, and then avaluate his preachings from our own physical experiences. We’ll have to let a go bit, to really start living and observe what makes us alive. May be then we will have an understanding of what soul-lessness is all about.

I have lived and worked in Dubai (U.A.E.) for 7 years. Sure it is a great playing field for architects, but at the same time an excellent opportunity to create responsible architecture that will let you live in harmony with yourself and the space that promotes it, rather than visually sexy and enticing forms that seem to be a product of some wire frame of an alien creature with fancy attire.

Enough said guys and gals!

abu dhabi, genius loci, vain architecture? can you please open
your eyes and look what’s going on down there? flower island
archipelagos with david beckham bungalows - i think
asymptote is very sensible in stuying this context. we are not in
Vals but in the centre of arbitraryness in terms of architecture.

and yes, can people please start using the computer as a tool
with all its capacity and not as a pencil?

i think it’s a beautiful building, playful with a nice collection of
spaces and well thought and crafted architecture that uses
all the means of designing something sustainable in our time.
rather a prostitute with character than grim old desperate housewives.

My understanding was that this an architectural blog where people are meant to express their opinions about ‘architecture’. Your comments are verging on offensive to those who have bothered to cast their opinion. Anyway in answer your questions my ‘opinion’ is as follows:

1. What is soulful architecture?
Perhaps an architecture that responds to the inner essence of each living being, something with human qualities, something that alights ALL of the senses, not just one of them i.e. candy for the eyes!

2. How is it not contextual?
Lack of consideration to climate and environmental irresponsibility is a good reason. Anonymity and lack off reason other than fanciful form making is another, however, I am glad you understand that to be contextual does not mean to look like your neighbors.

3. Zumthor=Timeless?
The fact that you see the association as a joke says a lot.

4. What is timeless?
Timeless is the quality of being ageless, or transcending one moment in time, fashion, style, taste, or indeed shallow form making. Usually applies to works of substance…something soulful (see 1.)

5. Everything dies and needs to die!
No comment!!

Can’t believe some of these rediculous comments from retro modernist losers. Do not judge this work on your sentimental preconceptions.
Souless?? What is soulful architecture? Mies box? Yeah right.
Non-contextual? How is that? Do you know the architects intent, read the blurb? Or do you want it ‘look’ contextual? Like a mosque? Like a hut?

Also, all you people who judge architecture negatively because it was preconcieved in a computer should just retire. Don’t push your insecurities onto the world. Its a tool. Learn it, just like you learnt how to speak, then to draw, then learnt autocad……
To the critics, tough luck if you were born ugly and can’t get laid.
Jealous ugly people are souless and boring.

Zumthor, SANAA,etc=timeless, is that a joke? What is timeless? Everything dies and needs to die….sentamentalist especially.

I still think projects like this are better than those commercial projects found everywhere. Most architects are just draftmen and salesmen, pleasing clients’ bad taste. GOTTA ACCEPT those who’s got gut like ASYMTOTE. They’ve been doing their things since who knows when.