After I posted my review of the City of Richardson's proposed new City Hall, I expected to receive critical responses in return along the lines of, "OK, Mr. Critic, what's your alternative?" Usually, I duck such questions, but this time, I'm going to offer an answer, one that I expect will be surprising. My alternative is a building right here in Richardson. It isn't built yet, but it will be. After the jump, what I'd like to see instead.
Above is a view of the proposed City Hall that didn't get much attention. That's because it's the back side. You can't see this view from the entrance, even though it's on the same side of the building, because it's hidden behind a staircase that sticks out from the main building. Why are they ashamed of it? They should feature it.
This is a building I could like. Why? It's cohesive, both in building materials and in mass. It's compatible with the Brutalist Library across the plaza. It wears its own arguably Brutalist style proudly, instead of concealing it behind fluted limestone and slate gray brick that hides the pre-cast concrete panels that make up most of the new City Hall. I like even little things, like where the entrance could be if this view were the featured side of the new building. It's a shame that this view of the building might be used for where the dumpsters will be stored. By the way, dumpsters aren't shown in any of the views offered by the City.
So, rotate the proposed building 90° clockwise, then redesign this facade to have big, prominent main entrance doors right there under those big glass windows. Of course, the other three sides would then have to be redesigned, too, but do it in a similar style as this side (at least, lose the slate gray brick), and I'll be happy.
That's my alternative. And I didn't even have to look very far to find it, just around back of the currently planned building.
"Turn it ninety, please,
Show the beauty in plain sight,
Glass window entrance."
—h/t ChatGPT
P.S. My opinion on this matter is heavily influenced by the existence of the Richardson Public Library in the same site. The basic incompatibility of the architecture of that building and the old City Hall was a serious flaw. Like an incompatible married couple, they lived side by side for fifty years, but had nothing to say to each other. That really needed to be solved in the design of the new City Hall. I think my suggestion (rotate the design 90°) does that.
I understand if people just don't like the Library's Brutalist architecture and want nothing to do with it in the new City Hall. Perhaps another project done by the same architect (Architexas) might be more to their liking. Just don't expect me to sign on.
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