Eugene David<br>...The One-Minute Pundit

ARCHDaily!

See, now we're about to utter another kind word for starchitecture. This is far preferable to what might have been, given this is a water tower; and while the color scheme might not be to our taste at least the design shows some imagination.

On the other hand there has been a big self-serving debate among writers of Cute Little Pink Papers about this new depilatory device going up near the Empire State Building. We cannot entirely exonerate King Kong's favorite platform as it was built on government demand (like the WTC) and because for years it was called the Empty State Building, and its numerous owners are testimony to its commercial dubiousness. But it does have the flair of its era and the symmetry of a day when architects still thought it important. This huge starchitect's fee should be despised not because it's blocking someone's view but because it was made by Panasonic, and with luck the owners will have themselves a white elephant every bit as empty as was the Empire State. Given this non-recession we're heading back into I wouldn't bet otherwise.

P. S. The building, which His Excellency's City Council approved today, is still in the "planning phase". TRANSLATION: This WILL be built with GUVMENT FUNDS.