May 25, 2010

Inappropriate

I have featured many of the beautiful buildings and ruins of the historic walled city of Intramuros, which used to be the city of Manila during the Spanish colonial period. Now let me show you the most glaringly out-of-place structure in the district. Called the Clamshell, it is a huge airconditioned tent used for commercial and tourism exhibitions and trade fairs. It stands on the corner of Santa Lucia and Anda streets, which used to be the location of the Ateneo de Manila University when it was still in Intramuros. To come upon this tacky structure, especially when it's screaming with promotional banners and streamers, after seeing the elegant Spanish architecture of the rest of Intramuros, is jarring, to say the least. I really hope that the Intramuros Administration and our Department of Tourism decide to take it down in the very near future.

Intramuros Clamshell exhibition tent

15 comments:

Living In Williamsburg Virginia said...

This does seem strangely out of place given the beautiful photos you have shared.

Darryl and Ruth : )

Lowell said...

Looks like some kind of carnival! Yikes!

Glad you're having a good time!

escape said...

maybe they can make a structure that's close to those spanish design structures. hoping to have enough budget.

enjoy your trip there in quebec!

Olivier said...

le mélange n'est pas toujours un très bon choix ;)

VP said...

Something is really wrong with a structure like this in Intramuros.
Have a nice stay and a happy family reunion in Quebec!

Kat said...

I saw this and hated it as well. I wish the government pays more attention to the preservation of historic places such as Intramuros. Sayang eh :/

AB said...

Maybe, they put this gaudy stuff here so that you appreciate the rest.

Lois said...

I definitely agree with you on this Hilda!

Halcyon said...

I guess every city has that one structure that just doesn't fit in!

Anonymous said...

Maybe time will make good for it and it turns out to have been just a cover upon something beautiful to rise from within.
Please have a nice Wednesday.

daily athens

Kaori said...

At first glance, I thought it was a circus! I like how you tagged this post "ugly." ;D

Dina said...

Yeah, it's pretty noticeable.

George said...

This definitely does not blend with the beautiful architecture you've shown us in previous posts.

Louis la Vache said...

Horribly inappropriate!

How do buildings like this get approved?
What is going through the mind of the designer?

Ioannis said...

It's near the ruins of the San Ignacio Church, the church of the Jesuits in Intramuros. I hope that they have enough budget to restore the Ateneo School structure as well, even just from the exteriors.