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Ever want to ask the architects of Government Center what in the world they were thinking?

The Boston Preservation Alliance is sponsoring a walking tour of Government Center:

It will begin at the Lindemann Center in Government Center, and will include a broad range of works showcasing the variety and quality of modernism in Government Center.

Aug. 17, 5:30 to 7 p.m., free to alliance members and $15 for everybody else. Reservations required: [email protected] or 617-367-2458.

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Comments

My dad said that when City Hall was originally designed, all those fugly mini roofs were supposed to be beautifully landscaped gardens with flowers, trees and stuff. Like an oasis for the people of Boston, rebirth after Scully Square, etc. Then the city got all broke or something and it never happened. I wonder what city hall would look like if this were actually true? My dad could also have been high at the time when he said this; it was the 70s after all.

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After the general revulsion against the building set in, the architects claimed that their plans called for covering on the concrete walls inside, and that to save money, the city never finished the job and left the concrete walls bare. The fact is that the Brutalist style they were so proud of emphasizes bare concrete, so covering it with fabric would have gone against everything they were intending to do. Same with plants - they go against the whole idea of masses of concrete making an artistic statement.

And by the way - sounds like I knew your dad. ;-)

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Not much of an oasis for the people if it is up on the roof of the building. And the only reason you'd need an oasis is because of the brick plaza desert that got put in. Let's not make excuses for the jackasses responsible for that abomination.

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Look up the definition of Brutalism in the dictionary and you're bound to find a picture of Boston City Hall.

Well, actually, Wikipedia. Close enough.

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It's no surprise that a government that would foist these terrible buildings on its citizens would govern them with the same arrogance.

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I thought it was the architects' first real job, and they turned the back of a penny upside down & based it on that.

It's what I heard, years ago, anyway. I can't think of any other reason.

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...those concrete window bays towering over the square were fitted with machine guns and hot oil, for warding off citizens who might try to petition their local government.

You can see where the drawbridge was to retract, and the barren plaza still shows remnants of the original moat design.

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n/t

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how exactly can one charge for a walking tour? or rather, enforce the charging, i guess... i mean, they can't very well say "HEY, stop following us!" or "i refuse to continue this walking tour until you stop listening!"

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And this is a walking tour.

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I've been waiting for a chance to do something like this for years.

The Powers That Be have an understandable aversion to people wandering around studying those buildings*, and it's tough to find someone who can give you a valuable lecture at the same time.

* I was threatened for taking pictures of a piece of artwork outside the Lindemann Center. I was asked why I would shoot such a thing.

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