elarafritzenwalden:
“The Big Apple”, Times Square Plaza Design (1984)
by Venturi, Rauch and Scott Brown
«We propose a Big Apple for Times Square: a piece of representational sculpture which is bold in form yet rich in symbolism, a tour de force of realism with a diversity of associations. It is popular and esoteric – a big Big Apple symbolizing New York City and a surrealistic object evoking Rene Magritte or a Pop-art monument in the manner of Claes Oldenburg. It is stark in its simplicity and monumental in scale; but it also ambiguous in scale of its very simplicity.
Contrasts and ambiguities in scale along with unusual juxtapositions are traditional means of creating surprise, tension and richness in urban architecture. Some New York examples are the Statue of Liberty, the Little Church around the Corner and Trinity Church on Wall Street.
The round form of the Big Apple provides an appropriate counterpoint to the bulk and angularity of the surrounding buildings. Despite its size, it promotes also a sense of openness and airiness in the space through its shape and “floating” quality. This 90 ft-plus diameter apple is the modern equivalent of the Baroque obelisk that identifies the center of a plaza.»
see the site | related information 1, 2
via “Quaderns d'arquitectura i urbanisme, 162” (1984)
