Comments on: If Famous Architecture Were Priced Like Paintings, a Le Corbusier Would Cost the Same as the Entire American GDP. http://davidgalbraith.org/architecture/if-famous-architecture-were-priced-like-paintings-a-le-corbusier-would-cost-the-same-as-the-entire-american-gdp/2074/ Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:58:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: admin http://davidgalbraith.org/architecture/if-famous-architecture-were-priced-like-paintings-a-le-corbusier-would-cost-the-same-as-the-entire-american-gdp/2074/comment-page-1/#comment-9556 admin Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:49:38 +0000 http://davidgalbraith.org/?p=2074#comment-9556 Le Corbusier is the world's most famous modernist architect! It may be that you just hadn't heard of him. Le Corbusier is the world’s most famous modernist architect! It may be that you just hadn’t heard of him.

]]> By: admin http://davidgalbraith.org/architecture/if-famous-architecture-were-priced-like-paintings-a-le-corbusier-would-cost-the-same-as-the-entire-american-gdp/2074/comment-page-1/#comment-9555 admin Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:44:18 +0000 http://davidgalbraith.org/?p=2074#comment-9555 So you're saying a famous painting is Einstein and a famous architect is Chuck Norris? I think the apples and oranges problem is at your end. So you’re saying a famous painting is Einstein and a famous architect is Chuck Norris?
I think the apples and oranges problem is at your end.

]]> By: Dmytry http://davidgalbraith.org/architecture/if-famous-architecture-were-priced-like-paintings-a-le-corbusier-would-cost-the-same-as-the-entire-american-gdp/2074/comment-page-1/#comment-9554 Dmytry Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:42:21 +0000 http://davidgalbraith.org/?p=2074#comment-9554 Actually, not. Both Einstein and Chuck Norris, at least, are famous. It's more like comparing Einstein to B movie actor who's playing math teacher, per frame of video footage. Actually, not. Both Einstein and Chuck Norris, at least, are famous. It’s more like comparing Einstein to B movie actor who’s playing math teacher, per frame of video footage.

]]> By: Dmytry http://davidgalbraith.org/architecture/if-famous-architecture-were-priced-like-paintings-a-le-corbusier-would-cost-the-same-as-the-entire-american-gdp/2074/comment-page-1/#comment-9553 Dmytry Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:39:46 +0000 http://davidgalbraith.org/?p=2074#comment-9553 Nice trolling. How's about comparing Einstein to Chuck Norris. Per newton of kick force. Or per lbf if you wish. Nice trolling.
How’s about comparing Einstein to Chuck Norris. Per newton of kick force. Or per lbf if you wish.

]]> By: monarchist http://davidgalbraith.org/architecture/if-famous-architecture-were-priced-like-paintings-a-le-corbusier-would-cost-the-same-as-the-entire-american-gdp/2074/comment-page-1/#comment-9551 monarchist Tue, 28 Jul 2009 06:06:29 +0000 http://davidgalbraith.org/?p=2074#comment-9551 It is true that paintings can be insanely overpriced, but they have the advantage of portability. Also they aren't exposed to the weather and restoration can often be accomplished with spit and Q-tips. It might be fairer to look at the integration of building and painting. The Sistine Chapel is priceless. It is true that paintings can be insanely overpriced, but they have the advantage of portability. Also they aren’t exposed to the weather and restoration can often be accomplished with spit and Q-tips.

It might be fairer to look at the integration of building and painting. The Sistine Chapel is priceless.

]]> By: Phil http://davidgalbraith.org/architecture/if-famous-architecture-were-priced-like-paintings-a-le-corbusier-would-cost-the-same-as-the-entire-american-gdp/2074/comment-page-1/#comment-9548 Phil Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:03:14 +0000 http://davidgalbraith.org/?p=2074#comment-9548 "not to buy for private enjoyment but for pubic [sic] (even if it’s just your friends) prestige." Spellcheck! ;) “not to buy for private enjoyment but for pubic [sic] (even if it’s just your friends) prestige.”

Spellcheck! ;)

]]> By: Dan Davies Brackett http://davidgalbraith.org/architecture/if-famous-architecture-were-priced-like-paintings-a-le-corbusier-would-cost-the-same-as-the-entire-american-gdp/2074/comment-page-1/#comment-9361 Dan Davies Brackett Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:41:07 +0000 http://davidgalbraith.org/?p=2074#comment-9361 The price difference between buildings and paintings is large, yes, but the primary reason for that is ARCHITECTURE IS NOT ART. It operates under different constraints than art, it is more divorced from its products than art, it's parsed differently than art is. When architecture is treated as art (by architects or by the people who commission their designs), it produces abominations of design - places that alienate rather than invite. Places that provoke thought rather than facilitating life. Comparing the price of a building to the price of a painting is as sensible as comparing the prices of an orange and box of screws. Both rely on incorrect assumptions. The price difference between buildings and paintings is large, yes, but the primary reason for that is

ARCHITECTURE IS NOT ART. It operates under different constraints than art, it is more divorced from its products than art, it’s parsed differently than art is. When architecture is treated as art (by architects or by the people who commission their designs), it produces abominations of design - places that alienate rather than invite. Places that provoke thought rather than facilitating life.

Comparing the price of a building to the price of a painting is as sensible as comparing the prices of an orange and box of screws. Both rely on incorrect assumptions.

]]> By: david galbraith http://davidgalbraith.org/architecture/if-famous-architecture-were-priced-like-paintings-a-le-corbusier-would-cost-the-same-as-the-entire-american-gdp/2074/comment-page-1/#comment-9289 david galbraith Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:29:50 +0000 http://davidgalbraith.org/?p=2074#comment-9289 @david "I think the discussion is missing the idea of “authenticity.” Van Gogh actually painted the things. Corb designed, but did not build the Villa Stein." The difference between original art and designed architecture is not so clear cut. Many artists who command a vast premium over commodity prices in comparison with architecture produce designs which are then executed by others in a manner no different from architects. Two well know examples of designer artists are Sol LeWitt and Carl Andre. With larger pieces and sculpture this is more common, e.g. Jeff Koons. Another thing that blurs the notion of an artist original is the involvement of collaborators, something which is the norm in architecture. Here again the line isn't clear cut, or reflected in price. Before the advent of photography, when the ability to produce a compelling likeness had higher value than originality the means to this end produced less angst about original authorship. Well known painters such as Rembrandt operated in a manner more akin to an architects office of today than a contemporary painter, with large numbers of painters on staff. Lastly, the commoditization of pictures is actually more extreme than architecture. There is only one Villa Stein, yet it costs no more than a design by someone unknown. On the other hand, a limited edition print by a celebrated artist, with several hundred copies usually fetches a huge premium. There are three things that matter in collectible status objects like paintings and diamonds, compared to houses: location flexibility, location flexibility and location flexibility. @david “I think the discussion is missing the idea of “authenticity.”
Van Gogh actually painted the things. Corb designed, but did not build the Villa Stein.”

The difference between original art and designed architecture is not so clear cut.

Many artists who command a vast premium over commodity prices in comparison with architecture produce designs which are then executed by others in a manner no different from architects. Two well know examples of designer artists are Sol LeWitt and Carl Andre. With larger pieces and sculpture this is more common, e.g. Jeff Koons.

Another thing that blurs the notion of an artist original is the involvement of collaborators, something which is the norm in architecture. Here again the line isn’t clear cut, or reflected in price. Before the advent of photography, when the ability to produce a compelling likeness had higher value than originality the means to this end produced less angst about original authorship. Well known painters such as Rembrandt operated in a manner more akin to an architects office of today than a contemporary painter, with large numbers of painters on staff.

Lastly, the commoditization of pictures is actually more extreme than architecture. There is only one Villa Stein, yet it costs no more than a design by someone unknown. On the other hand, a limited edition print by a celebrated artist, with several hundred copies usually fetches a huge premium.

There are three things that matter in collectible status objects like paintings and diamonds, compared to houses: location flexibility, location flexibility and location flexibility.

]]> By: Collecting Architecture | Art Market Monitor http://davidgalbraith.org/architecture/if-famous-architecture-were-priced-like-paintings-a-le-corbusier-would-cost-the-same-as-the-entire-american-gdp/2074/comment-page-1/#comment-9241 Collecting Architecture | Art Market Monitor Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:48:00 +0000 http://davidgalbraith.org/?p=2074#comment-9241 [...] of why the architecture market is does not follow the art market responding to a blog post by David Galbraith lamenting the low prices for works by reknowned architects. A great piece of architecture in a [...] [...] of why the architecture market is does not follow the art market responding to a blog post by David Galbraith lamenting the low prices for works by reknowned architects. A great piece of architecture in a [...]

]]> By: david http://davidgalbraith.org/architecture/if-famous-architecture-were-priced-like-paintings-a-le-corbusier-would-cost-the-same-as-the-entire-american-gdp/2074/comment-page-1/#comment-9240 david Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:55:01 +0000 http://davidgalbraith.org/?p=2074#comment-9240 I think the discussion is missing the idea of "authenticity." Van Gogh actually painted the things. Corb designed, but did not build the Villa Stein. Therefore, a replica of the house, while not totally original, would somehow be seen as more authentic than a reproduction of a Van Gogh. How else do we account for the many architectural gems that have been renovated/rebuilt over the years? I think the discussion is missing the idea of “authenticity.”
Van Gogh actually painted the things. Corb designed, but did not build the Villa Stein. Therefore, a replica of the house, while not totally original, would somehow be seen as more authentic than a reproduction of a Van Gogh. How else do we account for the many architectural gems that have been renovated/rebuilt over the years?

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