The Vessel - Straddling Art and Architecture

So, no pictures yet for last night's Project Runway, so my post of the show will be up tomorrow for all of my fellow "fashionistas". Today, instead, is a dive back into mediocrity ... or not ... because it leaves me free to speculate on architecture and definitions of beauty. 

The Vessel, designed by Thomas Heatherwick, is an amazing
construction of light, cells and glass. I've never seen
anything quite like it before and I'm totally in love. 

Last night's Project Runway "walk" took place in a very different venue - The Vessel. This architectural art design is in New York, of course, and when I finally get to New York in 2023, I'm adding a visit to The Vessel onto my "must see" list. It's absolutely amazing and I want to experience it for myself. 

An interior view of The Vessel gives you an idea of the scope
and size of the structure. Each cell has a platform with
stairs heading down each side to the next platform. There is
an elevator that takes people to the top for their walk
down and around (or down and zig-zag). 

It reminds me of a beehive in a lot of respects - those cells built upon cells. Or maybe it's more like a wasp nest, but either direction, it's quite amazing and absolutely beautiful in a very modern way. This is not old-time architecture, this takes architectural elements and pulls them into the future. 

The Vessel is 15 stories tall and cost approximately
$200 million to build. It doesn't really serve a function,
but as a large interactive sculpture, it's pretty amazing.
I'm not sure if any other US city could pull off something
like this, but it seems perfectly suited to New York City. 

The crazy thing about architecture is that it's usually there to serve a function. I can't, in all honesty, say what the function of The Vessel is outside of art, and the fact that a building of this size would be constructed at a cost that would leave me breathless, solely because of art just floors me! It's amazing, wonderful, and a bit thrilling to have art constructed for the sake of art on this scope. 

And, unfortunately, the structure has also had its first suicide - a young
man who jumped from the 6th floor a bit more than a week ago. So, as
most major structures do, The Vessel gathers its own history, both good
and bad. My heart goes out to his parents who have lost their only child. 

So even if we don't have Project Runway photos today (and I'm not 100% sure there will be any photos to see given that the "Runway" was actually The Vessel), we can still contemplate the juxtaposition of art and construction that led to this amazing venue. Have a great Friday. I'm heading to the gym for the first time in days because I'm finally feeling much better and I feel like a slug when I'm not working out regularly. I'll be back tomorrow, with or without Runway fashion photos.