In this week's comments update, readers are discussing MVRDV's winning proposal for social enterprise Shift's competition to design a €240 million landmark in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Named Rotterdam Rocks!, the project, which was designed to resemble stacked rocks with terraces and greenery, was the most radical of the five submissions.

"Actual nature does it better"

Commenters were largely on the same page.

"Horror!" wrote Fokkovanderveen. "A terrible nightmare!".

Ozspur, meanwhile, wrote "Looks like something Shrek would throw up."

"Just when it felt Rotterdam was starting to grow up, this comes along," said Will, exasperated. "I'm embarrassed for a wonderful city."

In agreement, Alfred Hitchcock said, "It doesn't look 'wonderful'. It's the Marble Arch Mound regurgitated and remodelled, and we know how well that went."

"Is this the death certificate of architecture?" Vinny asked.

In terms of its ecological stance, Ramsey Jansen said, "There is nothing 'green' about this monstrosity. Just a facade wearing a costume, with a maintenance bill nobody's talking about yet."

"Actual nature does it better," wrote Name Changer.

Though, amongst the slew of negativity, one commenter was impressed by the project.

"Love this," said HP. "It's an original design and could be wonderful."

What do you think? Join the discussion ›

"Are we now fully living in The Simpsons' world?"

Another story with an inundated comment section was the approval of a giant space mirror by the US federal government, intended to illuminate parts of the Earth at night.

"Humanity is cooked in more ways than one!" exclaimed Paul Wilcox.

Concurring, Dave wrote, "Humans will get so smart we will destroy ourselves, all in the name of science."

Monte said, "In order to solve one problem, we create a hundred others." To this, Imenda replied, "I would also not call night and darkness a problem."

"It just gets sillier everyday," said Bloibl, while Whateverandeverman wrote, "Checks calendar… not April 1st."

"Are we now fully living in The Simpsons' world?" asked Chris W, while Zmorg dubbed it a "tech-bro Death Star."

"I think the best thing to do would be to take this idea and stuff it where the sun don't shine," agreed Charlie Bing unenthusiastically.

"My day ruined," wrote Chauncey Mabe. "And your night," joked Stephano in response.

Have you had your say yet? Join the discussion ›

"Race you to the top"

One project that received a round of applause was KPF's design of tech company TP-Link's offices in Shenzhen, China, which are wrapped in a one-kilometre-long sequence of terraces and planted staircases.

"Back in the day, KPF would once in a while belt out a gem that rose above their standard corporate flair, and this seems like another one," wrote Heywood Floyd. "Very inventive use of that exterior space, and the exterior massing is quite interesting."

H T Holman agreed, writing, "A fascinating use of the exterior space."

"Interesting ideas," said Pa Varreon. "Clean and quiet architecture."

Just as impressed, MKE Tom wrote, "Beautiful design and use of the exterior ribbon of space. It is both simultaneously an intimate and grand gesture."

"This feels like actual landscaping," said MrG. "Plants are often just slapped on to make an otherwise boring building look nice in the renderings."

"Race you to the top," wrote Design Junkie.

What are your thoughts? Join the discussion ›

Comments update

Dezeen is the world's most commented architecture and design magazine, receiving thousands of comments each month from readers. Keep up to date on the latest discussions on our comments page and subscribe to our weekly Debate newsletter, where we feature the best reader comments from stories in the past seven days.