Imagine going to work every day in the old building, and being able to stop every once in a while in the middle of your bullshit office job, look around you and be reminded just just a moment that beauty exists. To have your spirits uplifted, even for just a moment, would probably have actually made you more productive.
Postmodernists either don't understand that beauty itself has utility, or they actively hate the idea of it. I'm sure that renovated building has all of the trappings that a modern office building needs: eco-friendly insulation, gender-neutral bathrooms, a wine bar and a place to nap. Very utilitarian.
But whereas the old building was probably in use for centuries, this one will be empty in a couple of decades. Despite all of its utilitarian trappings, it will quickly become clear that no one has any use for it. No one will have any use for it because no one wants to be in it, and no one wants to be in it because it's so fucking ugly.
Imagine going to work every day in the old building, and being able to stop every once in a while in the middle of your bullshit office job, look around you and be reminded just just a moment that beauty exists. To have your spirits uplifted, even for just a moment, would probably have actually made you more productive.
Postmodernists either don't understand that beauty itself has utility, or they actively hate the idea of it. I'm sure that renovated building has all of the trappings that a modern office building needs: eco-friendly insulation, gender-neutral bathrooms, a wine bar and a place to nap. Very utilitarian.
But whereas the old building was probably in use for centuries, this one will be empty in a couple of decades. Despite all of its utilitarian trappings, it will quickly become clear that no one has any use for it. No one will have any use for it because no one wants to be in it, and no one wants to be in it because it's so fucking ugly.