They say, “Forever is a lie,” well, the same applies to remarkable buildings which deserved to live forever but unfortunately got torn down too soon. Although every building’s life is bound to come to an end, some structures get regrettably demolished. Demolition occurs mainly because of building defects, safety, or economic reasons.
However, the most common reason for demolishing buildings is to erect another larger and more profitable facility. Unfortunately, many of these torn-down structures happen to be remarkable buildings that led a short life yet have a rich history.
What is the most remarkable buildings?
Here are six remarkable buildings which had an unexpected and unfortunate change in their fate:
1. Harmon Hotel, Hennessy Center, Grand Prince Hotel
Courtesy of Vrysxy (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Designed by legendary architect Sir Norman Foster, the Harmon Hotel is a non-gaming boutique in Las Vegas which features reflective blue-green glass panels and an elliptical form. However, the structural design turned out to be suffering from critical defects.
Rising 47 stories, the high-rise building was at risk of falling in case of a significant earthquake occurred. In this case, the building had to be demolished for safety reasons, as the inspectors found that the rebar was not installed correctly. Eventually, the building was demolished slowly by removing each panel bit by bit
Also read: Philip Johnson Iconic AT&T Building Lobby Gets Demolished
2. Jorba Laboratories
Image via Vitalvegas.com
Resembling traditional Asian architecture, the Jorba Laboratories used to stand as an outstanding example of Miguel Fisac’s rationalist design. Located in San Blas, Madrid, the remarkable building, also named “La Pagoda,” was designed in 1970.
The interesting overlapping geometrical form of the building allowed different amounts of light to enter at other times. Although the news of the building’s expected demolition had caused a lot of outrage, the building still got knocked down in 1999 as developers decided to build a large structure instead.
Also read: 10 Remarkable Architecture Projects Designed by Women
3. Prentice Women’s Hospital
Rising nine stories, the Prentice Women’s Hospital is a concrete tower hung on top of a five-story rectangular base that holds the research and surgical areas of the hospital. Located in Chicago, Illinois, and designed by Bertrand Goldberg, the building’s layout provides a central nursing station that enables easy access to the patient rooms. At the time of its construction in 1975, the design approach for helping the patients’ well-being was innovative.
Courtesy of Nathan Weber
However, after Northwestern University requested a new biomedical lab on the site and after a lot of public debate, it was torn down in 2013, putting a dreadful ending to this building’s story.
Courtesy of Studio Gang
Before its demolition, a proposal to reuse the building as a base structure for a new biomedical research facility was initiated by Jeanne Gang, owner of Studio Gang Architects. However, the plan was never executed.
4. Morris Mechanic Theater
Image via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Designed by architect John M Johansen, the Morris A. Mechanic Theatre used to be a Brutalist architectural landmark in Baltimore. The striking raw concrete building used to be a playhouse that hosted many popular performances. Initially, the Morris A. Mechanic theatre replaced a demolished building known as the old Ford Grand Opera House in 1964.
Courtesy of The Daily Record/Maximilian Franz
While some architectural enthusiasts appreciate the Brutalist style, local business leaders and the government certainly do not.
Although Johansen had requested Baltimore officials to list the theatre as an official landmark before he died, and so did many architects and preservationists, the City Council and the Planning Commission refused. By 2007, the building was officially not considered a landmark anymore, and by the end of 2015, it was completely demolished.
As you would expect, this demolition was executed for economic purposes. It was brought down to make way for apartment towers commissioned by business developer Howard S. Brown. The only thing that remained from the building was the original letters on the building’s sign which a local preservationist managed to save.
5. The Singer Building
Courtesy of Shorpy
Although it may seem like a common trend nowadays to have skyscrapers illuminating the night in big cities, it was considered a breakthrough in 1908. The Singer Building, which housed the headquarters of the Singer Sewing Co. and stood out as a prominent Manhattan landmark, was actually the first skyscraper to be lit at night. Designed by architect Ernest Flagg, the building is conceived as a large rectangular block with a thin tower protruding upwards and rising 35 stories from the structure.
Courtesy of Underwood and Underwood.
Unfortunately, the man who bought the Singer tower in 1961 found it challenging to attract corporate interest to this building due to its unconventional form. Since most businesses preferred having a larger area for office space, the remarkable building was eventually demolished and replaced by a 743-foot-high skyscraper known as One Liberty Plaza.