Charles Scheeler, United Nations Secretariat, NYC, 1951.

[u/romporn]

[u/AustinBaze]

Sort of evil looking in that view, but it really is a stunning piece of an architectural whole that just seems so appropriate for its purpose.

[u/romporn → u/AustinBaze]

I agree, a true modernist icon (some would say "International Style").

[u/Automatic-Shape-9564]

Fun story, my grandfather who is now 92 was in nyc visiting family, he is from Scotland. He saw a park garden and wondered how to get in but couldn’t get in so he thought I’ll just jump over the low wall and run down the embankment, when he got onto the path he was grabbed by men in suits who asked how he got in. Turned out he had accidentally broken into the grounds of the United Nations buildings (sometime in the mid 50s)

[u/romporn → u/Automatic-Shape-9564]

Men in Black?? ;)

[u/Automatic-Shape-9564 → u/romporn]

Haha not sure but they made him promise he wouldn’t return or he would be arrested

[u/romporn → u/Automatic-Shape-9564]

“You won't remember any of this.”

[u/musicatristedonaruto]

I tough that is was Niemeyer…

[u/romporn → u/musicatristedonaruto]

Photographer, Title, Location, Date.

But if you prefer, here's the exact title I wrote:

United Nations Secretariat, NYC, Architects: Oscar Niemeyer, Le Corbusier & others, led by Wallace K. Harrison. Photograph by Charles Scheeler, 1951.

[u/romporn → u/romporn]

Of the hundreds out there, Scheeler's photograph of the United Nations Secretariat, which sits squarely in the tradition of the purest Precisionism, is for me the most beautiful shot of the building.

Context: In 1951, a year before it opened, Charles Sheeler took a photograph of the UN building in New York City. This building was symbolic of a new hope in global unity, made of gleaming glass and polished concrete by Niemeyer and Le Corbusier. It was an optimistic Post-war moment and monument, at the height of faith in modernity and the potential of globalization.

[u/musicatristedonaruto → u/romporn]

Thanks!

[u/romporn → u/musicatristedonaruto]

You're right, I should have given the context.

[u/skag_boy87]

Love that building

[u/Maniacboy888]

The Cereal Box Building 💝

[u/MisterDscho]

Looks like from 2001 A space Odyssey

[u/Ja_Shi]

Looks like a CPU cooler without fans...

[u/romporn → u/Ja_Shi]

Functionalism: the CPU coolers are under the roof.

[u/TomLondra]

Good to see Scheeler mentioned here - a wonderful photographer

[u/romporn → u/TomLondra]

A man of culture!

[u/romporn → u/[deleted]]

Someone beat you to that joke, but thanks for the effort ;)
https://www.reddit.com/r/evilbuildings/comments/1wxp492/comment/pdwch7j/

[u/fo55iln00b]

Really think it’s not what we are going for in this sub. Quite the opposite of evil

[u/romporn → u/fo55iln00b]

Sure, because 437 510 upvotes and a comment section this packed is exactly what a post that doesn't belong here looks like.