Posted on May 03, 2022

In this week's comments update, readers are debating Balenciaga covering its Mount Street store in London in bright pink faux fur and discussing other top stories.

To launch its Le Cagole collection, fashion brand Balenciaga has transformed its Mount Street store in London by blanketing the interior in bright pink faux fur.

"The line, which now includes multiple bags, wallet, and shoe styles, reinvents Balenciaga codes in the tradition of maximalist It Bags of another era," said Balenciaga.

"Looks like a unicorn sneezed"

Readers are torn. "Everything looks good in pink!" said Ken Steffes.

Muckers270 was less keen: "Looks like a unicorn sneezed. God help them if someone drags in doggy-doo or chewing gum on the sole of their shoes."

"How many muppets had to die for this pop-up?" asked Jack Oliver.

Christopher Laurence had more serious concerns: "Nothing like filling your store with a load of oil-based plastic fake fur for Instagram clicks. They've attempted to address it in the press statement, but it's not a real solution, the majority will end up in the skip."

"It'll all be in a landfill in three months," replied The Resistance. "It is a statement on climate change. Just the wrong one."

Commenters are discussing an arc-shaped cluster of holiday apartments overlooking the Venetian Lagoon in Jesolo, Italy. The Building Descending the Stairs was designed by architecture practices ElasticoFarm and Bplan Studio. 

"I quite like the concept," said Bobby Dazzler. "I do however believe the horizontal elements/balconies are too fractured. Elongating these elements would create a more subtle form."

MKE Tom agreed: "It appears to be a lot of needless gyrations going on at many different scales."

"Ambitious form-making," concluded Heywood Floyd, "but in the end probably too aggressive. Stirling did it better 60 years ago anyway."

Commenter says "you can't make big claims about being carbon positive when you're relying on off-setting"

Readers aren't sold on claims that a Denver hotel named Poplus, designed by architecture firm Studio Gang, will be the "first carbon-positive" hotel in the United States.

"This looks fabulous in some images and terrible in others," said Archi.

"Off-setting with trees – come on!" continued Ima Nerdee. "You can't make big claims about being carbon positive when you're relying on off-setting. I was anticipating something innovative such as an activated lime facade that absorbs carbon by the ton."

Peter Wilson agreed: "The cynicism in describing this irredeemably ugly, context-devoid one-liner of a concrete structure as carbon-positive, because its developers say they are going to plant trees in some unknown location, is simply breathtaking."

Reader thinks we should put "barbaric" cow device "on a human and see how they like it"

Commenters are annoyed by the design for a methane-catching cow muzzle, which is among the winning projects of the inaugural Terra Carta Design Lab competition. The competition is run by The Prince of Wales and former Apple designer Jony Ive.

"Eat less beef," suggested Ken Steffes. "Unnaturally covering an animal's face is a problem looking for a solution. Let's just put this barbaric device on a human and see how they like it?"

"A cow needs its nose to eat," continued AM. "Otherwise, it does not know how or what to grasp with its tongue."

"Cows wearing masks and filters almost looks like a robotic cow now, the 'cow-borgs'," added Alex. "I wonder what animal rights foundations would think about that idea even if it isn't 'harmful' to a cow."

Original article: https://www.dezeen.com/2022/05/04/fur-covered-balenciaga-store-comments-update/