BOSTON’S CRIMES-HAUNTS – UGLIEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD

In a 2008 online survey Virtualtourist asked its travel savvy audience to identify the ugliest building in the entire world. Their selection? Boston’s City Hall. Ironically, after this structure was completed in 1968, a poll conducted by the AIA (American Institute of Architects) actually rated City Hall as the sixth best building ever built in the history of the US. Now recognize that this meant that it was ranked higher than the Empire State Building and the US Capitol.

 Boston’s City Hall

In the 1950s the entire area around City Hall (now referred to as Government Plaza) was cleared, thereby destroying the last remnants of a former red-light district known as the Old Scollay Square.  Over 1,000 buildings and twenty-two streets were razed during this city revitalization effort.

Boston’s current City Hall was the vision of three professors from Columbia University, the youngest of whom was only 25 years old, and who won a design competition out of 256 applicants. City Hall’s architectural style is described as Brutalist Modern, with “Brutalist” probably being the key adjective here. The surrounding brick plaza was the design of IM Pei, whose name you may recognize as having designed the tallest building in Boston, the John Hancock Tower and whom is also responsible for the glass pyramid outside of the Louvre.

Now, we’ve been critical of the physical appearance of City Hall thus far, but the intent and design of the structure is actually quite innovative. There are three distinct sections to the building—each with a distinct intended purpose. The lowest and most accessible level, of brick is meant to contain those government services, most visited and used by the public. The second level maintains protruding blocks that are meant to draw attention that the most prominent public officials serve in this area, including the Mayor and City Council. And finally the third level with its highly symmetrical and structured windows is meant to evoke order and formality, much like the offices of bureaucratic agencies which reside here such as the city planning department.

Originally the designers had intended to include within these walls a beer hall similar to those of Germany’s City Halls. It is probably fortunate, however, for the city of Boston, that its elected officials are not tempted during the day prior to voting on any legislation.

• Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_City_Hall
• Address: 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA
• Cost: Free