In a message dated 11/24/2003 3:59:16 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Touring a New York City College with buildings from 1897 to 1988, an architect who wears a pointy handkerchief in his breast pocket said "of course, we're working on a uniform signage policy".
I've been thinking about this remark. We don't expect - in buildings of widely varying ages - uniform drinking fountains, uniform elevators, uniform clocks, uniform furniture, uniform light fixtures. Why is "uniform signage" one of those things that people just accept as "good"?
Because architects like things to be uniform and consistent (think Studebaker Dictator).
If you think we wouldn't like to have uniform DF's, elevs, clocks, furniture, and light fixtures, you're mistaken. Of course, if there some really nice old examples of these things survive, well, that's a nice feature and shows our respect for the work of our elders, and their fine craftsmanship and all that shit. But to be able to clear away all those later accretions from the 40's-50's-60's-70's-80's and 90's, which
were selected by mortals who didn't wear pointy handkerchiefs anywhere near as tasteful as ours, well, that's an opportunity we should take advantage of.
Didn't you ever see a dog piss on a fire hydrant, for God's sake?
Ralph