Green Tower Plans Criticized as "Phallic"
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 07.17.07
Is that a flower…or a "giant phallus"? In San Diego, "organic" design takes on a whole new meaning with the heated controversy over a proposed green 40-story residential tower.
“If it looks like a phallic symbol, someone has a strange perception,” says Sandor Shapery, the San Diego-based developer behind the design. “You can find sex anywhere if you want to...There's just some sick people out there.”
But architect Gwynne Pugh--of the internationally-renowned firm Pugh + Scarpa--has a different vision. He was hired by the downtown redevelopment agency to review the city's new building designs.
“With its rounded forms and swelling of the uppermost floors...this building structure is very phallic," he says.
Unfortunately, the tower's design is essential to energy conservation goals, which include recycling water from the cooling system for use in the swimming pool, laundry, and irrigation.
Shapery now plans to make some modifications before the proposal is reviewed again. Thanks tipster Mark. via ::SignonSanDiego More on Pugh + Scarpa ::New Future for Solar Panels ::Dwell Home II See also this phallic solar plant and the Rorschach Inkblot Test.
If people want to complain about that thing being phallic, they should see the Florida Capitol Building, which is the butt-end of a lot of off color jokes here in the Sunshine state.
Anything can be seen as phallic. Is the Space Needle? Should we outlaw the yam because some cultures see it as being phallic?
I'm sick of anything that is long with an enlarged end being declared phallic. This is just a basic shape with many practical applications. Sure, it may look like a phallus, but it looks like a lot of other things too. Get a life people. I'm with Shapery, people can find sex anywhere. And sex isn't that bad either. After all, it made YOU!
Yikes! There are many green towers around the world that have better design than this and are able to achieve impressive energy and water conservation. I'm afraid I'd have to cry NIMBY on this one.
A few years back, I tried to put energy-efficient light bulbs around my house. I live with parents still, and Mother was not pleased - she said that the hanging tubes of a CFL looked like some type of phallic symbol.
A phallic symbol, in its basic form, can be anything that is long and thin. Its a very vague definition. Looking around me right now I can see three phallus-like shapes on my desk at work (A pair of scissors, a can of polish, and the company logo if you turn it upside-down).
Some people are just very over-sensetive. Long and thin is a very usful shape - must it be banned because it comes close to the edge of a taboo if you tilt your head and squint in the right way?
Yes it is phallic. Phalic its a definition and this building shape fits this deffinition. But...whats the problem??!!!
Who cares if it's phallic, I'm all for green buildings but this thing is hideous. Just cause it's green does not mean it cant be pretty.
Sorry folks, I'm afraid if it actually looked like a penis it would be quite a bit shorter.
If people want to live in a giant penis - they have ever right too. Just don't complain when they think you're a dick head.
It would be interesting to see what they think about this building in Barcelona: Agbar tower at night.
Washington monument?
It would be interesting to see what they think about this building in Barcelona: Agbar tower at night.
How about..it's just plain ugly!!!
Every tall building ever is phallic. Complain.
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/2/27/250px-Capital.jpg
People get embarrassed when they themselves see something sexual in an object or building. Then they feel they need to act out on their own insecurities by telling everyone else that they too will be tortured by discomfort in the design of such a structure.
Stop buying Popsicles, not only are they phallic looking, what you do with them in your mouth is far worse. XXX food, I tell ya.
People see what they want to see, like the Virgin Mary in a grilled cheese sandwich. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. And sometimes it isn't. Your mind connects the dots, not the other way around.
There's a discussion brought up before, but the jist of it is... most of all Architecture is phallic. The race for the tallest building in the 50's is ultimately... my unit is taller than yours. In such a male dominated profession, competition is quite natch.
The fact that much architecture is phallic is not a defense. Plus the reason this building is news is because it's _extremely_ phallic, what with the swelled tip and all.
Anyway, I make my argument for why this building is a train wreck here.