[quote author="tkaratz" date=1226922908][quote author="OC Zed" date=1225337384][quote author="bkshopr" date=1225264275]Learn from the expert. There is no residential highrise on the Irvine Ranch. This building type does not make sense for the financial model in OC. If it made sense then wouldn't you think TIC would be all over it ? All builders follow the wave of TIC and the ripple effect influence neighboring states like Nevada, Arizona and Colorado. The risk takers strayed from the formula are getting themselves into big trouble.
Every 2 months Kevin Pheiffer who conducts model home tours takes homebuilders from across the country to tour Irvine Ranch model homes. Architects and builders from the western states maintain a satellite firm in OC just to keep up with latest trade secrets and prototypes. This is the reason why homes in the neighboring states look like a real bad knock off of OC homes.
<strong>Tuscan and Santa Barbara architecture is now in Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Arizona, Las Vegas and the Tuscan plague is spreading in Dubai, Beijing, Shanghai, Indonesia, Seria, India and Algeria. Oversea commissions are keeping the OC architectural firms alive and OC architects are spreading their favorite Tuscan disease. Eamar who bought John Laing Homes is promoting OC style in the middle east.</strong></blockquote>
This is a scourge that needs to end. I was hoping that homebuyers in different locales had better taste than the vapid populace of Orange County.</blockquote>
Yes, we need to end the scourage of mediteranean architecture that plauges orange county, san diego, santa barbara, italy, and, most of all, spain.
Regardless of the opinions of people who's architectural training consists of a subsription to dwell, for better or for worse, this style of architecture has proven universally appealing. "Progressive" architecture becomes outdated architecture in a few years and their floor plans aren't accomodating to the tenants. You can't argue against this style from a marketing stand point.</blockquote>
Wait a second, you are telling me that modern architecture which is (generally) designed towards an efficient, practical use of space and light becomes quickly outdated while thousands of orange stucco boxes which popped up on the Southern California landscape <em>within the last ten years</em> represent timeless architecture for Southern California???? Really? You don't smell a fad here? You don't see anything wrong in one location trying so hard to create an environment that belongs half a world away from centuries ago? You really think all of these wannabee Italian farmhouses feature floorplans that will be everlastingly "accomodating to the tenants"? I have seen gingerbread houses that do not look as silly as some of the monstrosities that have popped up in your typical IAC controlled development. When architecture attempts to be nostalgic, it only results in tackiness.
Only in the land of Hollywood and Disneyland, I suppose.