presenting the sub-zero haus

this um....slick wackiness (?) is in greenpoint, brooklyn. so whaddaya think?  :clap:  or  :whip:

Greenpoint Sub-Zero Building Update: Owner Likes 'Ugly-Ass' Renovation

Thursday, June 01, 2006, by Robert

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Seems last week's item about the Sub-Zero Building in Greenpoint struck a nerve, among them that of the building's owner, who left a comment saying, "I like it, but then, I'm the owner & designer of this 'ugly-ass' renovation." Indeed. The stainless-steel home that wouldn’t look out of place in an Andrés Escobar-designed kitchen encouraged intense discussion about "vernacular buildings" and "working class communities." Not to mention more about the pros and cons of vinyl siding than Curbed has ever witnessed. One writes:

Someone does something that doesn't look like 80 year old petrified crap and mr. pissy pants blogger dumps all over it? poo on him. I want a house I can windex!"

The last word, though, comes from the owner himself:

I'm just a guy that wanted to do something a little different to a dilapidated old building on Green Street, that I hope to make a home after its completion. The windows will match (my contractor ordered the wrong color)--we will have to paint them. The vinyl on the side is admittedly hideous, the cure of which is being contemplated…If I offended anyone, I truly apologize. With all the new massive loft developments going up it didn't occur to me that my little two story home would upset people so much.

No further comment from the angry Greenpoint dog crap blogger (we’re still awaiting the promised "Crap Map") that attacked the Sub-Zero Building in the first place.

· Greenpoint Renovation: Call it the Sub-Zero Building? [Curbed]

Reader Comments (9 extant):

1.

Cheers to him for trying something exciting and different! Maybe, Curbed, we should bring back rock paneling?

By Kevin Wilen at June 1, 2006 02:12 PM2.

Hi owner,

i actually love your building. are you an architect? would love your info if you are in the business. do you have a website with contact info?

thanks.

By anon at June 1, 2006 03:09 PM3.

sub zero haus rules! much better than the crappy fake vinyl siding or worse that old crappier fake brick greenish grayish horizontal stripey eyesore that still exists in the hood. can anyone honestly, (no really honestly, not 'hipsterlier than thou, faux champion of the little guy and fake preservationist') say that the house next door would end up anywhere other than architectural undigested? i am working class,of immigrant parents, a renter in billburg and i say, more windex!

By williamsburgermeister at June 1, 2006 03:13 PM4.

If you don't like it, stick refrigerator magnets on it!

By Anonymous at June 1, 2006 03:29 PM5.

I think this house needs its own blog. Hell, maybe even a comic strip "The Adventure's of Refigerator Haus" his arch nemisis can be Evil Faux-Brick Man and Ms. Preservationist who, like Daredevil, is blind.

By Kevin at June 1, 2006 03:33 PM6.

The arguemnt "its betetr then the ugly ass house next door" is so tired. Who the hell cares if its new or better then the neighbors? The dicsussion should be about the aestetics of this building compared to nice buildings not crap. Aiming for better then the ugly is why we strive for mediocrity in many of the new buildings.

Same for the "good he tried something new". New does not equal nice, just as much as old does not equal nice. Thinking as such makes you just as bad as the people wanting pto preserve every building.

Love it or hate it, but quit with the lame reasoning, we're all better then that.

By Anonymous at June 1, 2006 03:47 PM7.

I think it's gorgeous

By Boots at June 1, 2006 03:56 PM8.

I love it.

I just hope he doesn't have the kitchen at the rear of the parlor floor. That would be SHAMEFUL.

By Larry at June 1, 2006 05:13 PM9.

I plan to do some cattle butchering on the siding of this house. Then I will get a garden hose and it's like nothing ever happened.

By fattie at June 1, 2006 05:19 PM

link:

http://www.curbed.com/archives/2006/06/01/greenpoint_subzero_building_update_owner_likes_uglyass_renovation.php