LET THERE BE DEATH CONCHA ACUSTICA MAY 4, 2014
RIP, CUT, SMASH AND CRUSH IT UP CONCHA ACUSTICA MAY 6, 2014
IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT OF SATURDAY MAY 3RD 2014 THE REIGN OF TERROR POUNCED ON THE CONCHA ACUSTICA WITH JACK HAMMERS, CRANES AND UNLIMITED LABOR FORCE OF ROSARIO MURILLO WORKER BEES TEARING INTO THE 3″ REINFORCED CONCRETE SKIN. BY DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT IT WAS STILL STANDING THE BASE CUT WITH TORCHES, PROCLAIMED FRAGILE STRUCTURE BUT SNAPPING CABLES TRYING TO DESTOY. WITNESSED BY THE PRESS. DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR BY WATER RUSTING AWAY THE INTEGRITY OF THE STRUCTURE CLAIMED THE PUPPET CITY HALL ENGINEER AND MAYOR . TOO DANGEROUS TO THE POPULOUS. A MOCK TRIAL AT THE CITY HALL LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON STATING THE CONCHA ACUSTICA HAD TO BE LEVELED. PLAYING TO THE FEARS OF THE RECENT EARTHQUAKES, WITH CRACKS IN THE SKIN WHICH AMOUNTED TO A SPACKLE JOB REPAIR.
NO PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OR OUTSIDE PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS SOUGHT, INCLUDING MYSELF ANDTHE ORIGINAL ENGINEER OF THE STRUCTURE SERGIO OBREGON. A RESPECTED CONSULTING ENGINEER HIRED BY THE MAYOR, CLOSE TO SERGIO, RELAYING THAT FROM HIS SITE INSPECTION THERE WAS RUST DAMAGE TO A FEW MEMBERS DUE TO A HOLE IN THE ROOF THAT COULD BE EASILY REPAIRED. NO IT WAS JUST A LIE THAT CREATED CONFUSION. TYPICAL PLOY THAT HAS BEEN A TACTIC THROUGHOUT HISTORY. MOCK TRIAL, QUICK ASSASSINATION., CONFUSION. I WOULD HAVE SUGGESTED A FIELD TEST BY THE CITY SIMILAR TO WATTS TOWERS IN LOS ANGELES.
THE MAYORS OFFICE CLAIMING THE REMOVAL WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS, YET, WORKERS AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT WORKING FEVERISHLY FOR SIX DAYS AND NIGHTS. LIMPING AWAY AFTER A RELENTLESS FURY TO TEAR DOWN THE INNOCENT CONCHA ACUSTICA. MEN AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT RESORTING TO CUTTING THE STRUCTURE APART IN SMALL PIECES TO GET IT KILLED. AT LEAST WATTS TOWERS GOT A FIELD TEST OF STRENGTH THAT SNAPPED CABLES AND BROKE WRENCHES. . THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES THEN SANCTIONING IT WAS SAFE AND COULD LIVE.
YES, THE CONCHA ACUSTICA PASSED THE SAFETY TEST, BUT DESTROYED NONE THE LESS. THE STRUCTURAL SYSTEM WAS AN OVERBUILT SPACE FRAME IN THE SHAPE OF A QUARTER OF A SPHERE SOLIDLY ANCHORED TO A THICK REINFORCEDCONCRETESTAGE SLAB PAD, WITH CAISSONS, AND RETAINING WALL FOUNDATION ACTING AS ONE HUGE ROCK BURIED IN THE EARTH. NO IT WAS GOING NOWHERE. THE STRONGEST STRUCTURE IN NICARAGUA. SEE BLOGS NICARAGUA 5 AND 6
THE LA PRENSA, NICARAGUA DISPATCH AND MULTI OTHER NEWS SOURCES DENOUNCING THE TRAVESTY AND SENSELESS LOSS. EVEN ECHOED IN PORTLAND OREGONIAN AND ARCHINECT
THE BUZZ, THE SITE IS SCHEDULED FOR A HOTEL THAT IS PART OF A GRAND MASTER PLAN OF MALL ACTIVITIES. ALL PRINTED IN COLOR AS THE THE FUTURE OF NICARAGUA BY ROSARIO.
I RECEIVING NUMEROUS CONDOLENCES FROM FAMILY, FRIENDS, PROFESSIONAL AND EVEN LUIS SEVELLA SOMOZA, HEIR MANAGER OF THE DICTATOR FAMILY PROPERTIES , ALL PROCLAIMING THE NEED TO RESPECT THE MONUMENTS OF THE PAST, AND THE SENSELESS DESTRUCTION BY ROSARIO MURILLO. ROGER LEWITES THE MOST PAINED, BEING MY PARTNER IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SHELL AND NEPHEW OF THE LATE HERTY LEWITES MAYOR OF MANAGUA AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE RUNNING AGAINST DANIEL ORTEGA. HAVING THE SUPPORT OF A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE SANDINISTA LEADERSHIP. ALSO DAVID CADIA, ROGER’S BROTHER AND HERTY’S NEPHEW, EXPRESSING OUTRAGE OVER THE SINISTER MOTIVES BEHIND THE DEATH OF THE PROUD SHELL.
IN THE NICARAGUA DISPATCH COMMENTS, THERE WAS A LONE PERSON IN FAVOR OF DEMOLITION, SAYING THE CONCHA ACUSTICA WAS DATED 70IES ARCHITECTURE AND NATURE IS MILLIONS OF YEARS OLD. WE HAD A BACK AND FORTH DIALOGUE. I STATING THAT IF 70IES ARCHITECTURE MEANT TWA AIRPORT TERMINAL BYEREO SAARINEN, THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE BY UTZON, AND BRAZILLA CHAPEL BY OSCAR NIEMEYER. THEN THE CONCHA ACUSTICA WAS IN GOOD COMPANY SINCE THE POPULOUS REVERED THEIR BEAUTY , MAINTAINED THEM AND DID NOT DESTROY THEM. I HAD NO TROUBLE WITH NATURE BEING A MILLION YEARS OLD AND STILL CURRENTLY LOVED. THE CONCHA ACUSTICA HAD UNIVERSAL BEAUTY. HOW SAD TO DESTROY. THE LOSERS BEING THE NICARAGUA PEOPLE.
LUIS SOMOZA, HAVING STUDIED ARCHITECTURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA FOR ONE YEAR STATING THE DESTRUCTION WAS WRONG OF THE CONCHA ACUSTICA AND THAT IT WAS OVER BUILT, HIS PREFERENCE BEING THE COLON FOUNTAIN OF MINE THAT WAS ALSO TORN DOWN, SEE BLOG BYE BYE FOUNTAIN. HE THANKFUL FOR THE RUBEN DARIO OPERA HOUSE STILL STANDING THAT HIS AUNT HOPE BUILT. FRIENDS AND FAMILY TELLING ME “DO NOT TAKE THE DESTRUCTION PERSONAL, IT IS JUST POLITICAL”. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LINE OUT OF THE GODFATHER.
ARCHITECTURE IS NEUTRAL, TO BE USED BY ALL. I HAD NO SAY ABOUT THE FUNCTION, I WAS TOLD TO DESIGN FOR FREE PUBLIC CONCERTS, SPEECHES, SERMONS AND PUBLIC DELIGHT. TO THINK ARCHITECTURE IS POLITICAL IS A PETTY MIND. HERTY IS DEAD, LONG GONE, SIGNIFICANT LEADERS FOR PROGRESS FORGIVE AND UNITE TO MOVE ON. HERY LEWITES BELIEVED IN BRINGING TOGETHER VYING FACTIONS IN NICARAGUA . ALL MY MONUMENTS NEUTRAL FOR PUBLIC USE. LIKE THE OPERA HOUSE THAT IS USED BY ALL OF NICARAGUA .
I COMING TO NICARAGUA IN 1986 TO CONTRIBUTE TO A NEW DREAM OF NICARAGUA TO UNITE FOR THE GOOD OF ALL. SADLY THE USA WAS BACKING A CLANDESTINE WAR AGAINST NICARAGUA AT THE SAME TIME THAT WAS EVENTUALLY EXPOSED. I BELIEVED THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A GOVERNMENT RIGHT. REGRETTABLY IT DID NOT HAPPEN. “COME ON PEOPLE SMILE ON YOUR BROTHER” IS YET TO COME.
I AM A HUMANITARIAN, EVERYBODY BORN HAS THE RIGHT TO HEALTH, FOOD, SHELTER, EDUCATION, JUSTICE AND FREEDOM. HOW THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IS STILL IN THE EXPERIMENTAL STAGE. SELFISHNESS AND GREED GET IN THE WAY. YOU WOULD THINK SOCIETY WOULD HAVE EVOLVED TO THE POINT OF WORLD BEYOND WAR TO SETTLE THEIR DIFFERENCES.
MY DAUGHTER YASMINA FORECASTING SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO COME OF THIS. I HOPE SHE IS RIGHT, BUT IT IS SELDOM WE GET A SECOND CHANCE TO DO IT RIGHT. THE CONCHA ACUSTICA WAS TOO BEAUTIFUL AND POPULAR TO SURVIVE NICARAGUA. MY HOPE BEING NICARAGUA WORSHIP OF THE DEAD WILL BE THE INCENTIVE TO INSPIRE TO BUILD BEAUTY FOR THE PUBLIC AGAIN.
A HUGE SAD LESSON THAT DESTROYED THE ONE LOVED SIGNIFICANT VISUAL MONUMENT IN NICARAGUA..
I PERSONALLY FEEL MOLESTED, MY BEST BUILT PROJECT SENSELESSLY MURDERED. I THOUGHT I WAS LEAVING SOMETHING OF SIGNIFICANCE TO NICARAGUA THAT WOULD BE LOVED AND RESPECTED AFTER MY DEATH.
IS ARCHITECTURE JUST A FLEETING BLIMP ON THE RADAR SCREEN? IS ARCHITECTURE JUST STAGE SETS FOR THE MOMENT? PROBABLY IS, TRICKING US TO THINK IT IS MORE. THE WISE ACCEPTING THE TEMPORAL
GLEN
RENDERING 2003 DAVID CADIA AND GLEN HOWARD SMALL
RENDERING 2003 DAVID CADIA AND GLEN HOWARD SMALL
RENDERING 2003
CONSTRUCTION 2004
CONSTRUCTION 2004
CONSTRUCTION 2004
2OO5 CONCHA ACUSTICA MANAGUA NICARAGUA GLEN HOWARD SMALL AND ROGER LEWITES ARCHITECTS
2OO5 CONCHA ACUSTICA MANAGUA NICARAGUA GLEN HOWARD SMALL AND ROGER LEWITES ARCHITECTS
2OO5 CONCHA ACUSTICA MANAGUA NICARAGUA GLEN HOWARD SMALL AND ROGER LEWITES ARCHITECTS
2OO5 CONCHA ACUSTICA MANAGUA NICARAGUA GLEN HOWARD SMALL AND ROGER LEWITES ARCHITECTS
2OO5 CONCHA ACUSTICA MANAGUA NICARAGUA GLEN HOWARD SMALL AND ROGER LEWITES ARCHITECTS
LOOKING AT PLAZA AND OPERA HOUSE
2OO5 CONCHA ACUSTICA MANAGUA NICARAGUA GLEN HOWARD SMALL AND ROGER LEWITES ARCHITECTS
2OO5 CONCHA ACUSTICA MANAGUA NICARAGUA GLEN HOWARD SMALL AND ROGER LEWITES ARCHITECTS
2OO5 CONCHA ACUSTICA MANAGUA NICARAGUA GLEN HOWARD SMALL AND ROGER LEWITES ARCHITECTS
2OO5 CONCHA ACUSTICA MANAGUA NICARAGUA GLEN HOWARD SMALL AND ROGER LEWITES ARCHITECTS
OPENING NIGHT, 150,000 AUDIENCE
OPENING NIGHT
SANDINISTA USE
MASTER PLAN WITH CONCHA ACUSTICA 2OO2 A DREAM THAT DIED WITH HERTY LEWITES
READERS,
YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO TALK AT A FUNERAL. STEP UP.
THERE HAS BEEN PRESS:
http://nicaraguadispatch.com/2014/05/sandinistas-demolish-nicaraguas-concha-acustica/
http://hyperallergic.com/128686/the-politics-of-architecture-in-nicaragua/
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2014/05/la_concha_acustica_sandinista_wrecking_crews_destroy.html
CHECK OUT archinect
MICHAEL SORKIN ALSO DOING A BIT IN THE NATION.
NEWS THRIVES ON DEATH, USUALLY FATAL, THE CHANCES OF A RESURRECTION REMOTE.
THE BOTTOM LINE DESTROYED, WHAT CAN BE LEARNED FROM THIS?
GLEN
news thrives on death, usually fatal, the chances of resurrection a long shot.
Glen, I dont have a working computer so its hard to write more often but here goes…
A tragedy is always new is s so much that its a cliche in jounalism. Third world corruption and political cronyism also
ERIK,
SORRY TO HEAR YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER. YOU HAVE A LOT TO SAY AND SHOULD BE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR.
IN THE SHALLOW WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT THAT DEPENDS ON SOMETHING RADICALLY DIFFERENT TO CREATE INTEREST BECAUSE THE SOCIETY IS SO TIRED OF THE DEATH TO AN ACOUSTICAL SHELL IN NICARAGUA SOUNDS ODD TO ME.
I BEING THE ARCHITECT FEEL VIOLATED, VERY PERSONAL.
YOU BEING MY BUDDY CAN RELATE TO A DEATH IN THE FAMILY AND HAVE EXPRESSED THAT IN PRINT ELSEWHERE.
THANKS.
GLEN
GLEN,
ELEGY for CONCHA ACUSTICA
What mean spirited fury
tries to silence sound,
for six days and nights
ripping and tearing the skin
that covers the sound inside,
and with the sound of hammers
hammering! hammering! hammering!
like a blacksmith at his anvil
who pounds the sound even deeper
into the soul of the great shell.
Listen! Listen!
give your ear to the sound
like listening to the roar of the sea
in a small sea shell.
On the seventh day
they rest
as if they are gods
grown weary of their beastly task
to destroy
beauty.
Concha Acustica
you have been sacrificed
on the altar of fools
whose bloodied hands
failed to find your heart
that is beating still,
alive and well as the wind
everywhere in Nicaragua.
Concha Acustica
speaks louder now.
Even small minded gods
with their grand illusion
that killing sound
is the equivalent of silence
cannot silence the people’s voice
and the long wide wind let loose,
unbound from the great shell source.
Transformation,
not death has occurred.
Concha Acustica
The People’s Voice
the same,
a mighty wind rising
to haunt mean spirited little gods
whose puny power
and ignoble acts
pathetic.
David Teachout
6-1-14
David Teachout
mjlock1@mac.com
Now even Vulcan and his anvil ais sad. Only his clang and bang remain after the music is silenced..
Totalitarian regeims dont trust intellectuals like Glen. They see indivdual persons ias dangerous and not in lockstep. They oppose ‘persons’ to an abstract ‘people’ . Artists and illectuals are among the first to be silenced.
eric,
after the clash and bang , protects of outrage , the cartoons of destruction and the removal of all evidence of the concha acoustica existence, life goes on.
all so temporary. all that is left is the printed image that will live on forever.
a scape book of a brief life, but the gap between the printed image and a functioning real live object is huge. so destructions is a serious offense unless brought back to life. the judge making the thief return the jewels or compensate the victims.
glen