Balance as Functionality According to our lecture notes from Jane Veeder, "we are sensitive to deviations in our expected vertical to horizontal compostions."
When the building of the Pisa Tower began in 1173, it was designed to stand straight. The foundations were laid in sand - (which does not make a lot of sense when you think about it). It began to lean when only three of its floors had been built, plans were modified and the building continued until it was completed in 1350.Photo credit - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisa
On the other hand, the Veer Towers in Las Vegas, were deliberately designed to lean. During a January, 2010 interview for the Las Vegas Business Press, Architect Helmut Jahn, claims that he "wanted to do real architecture, which tips its hat towards the entrainment culture. Not 'theming' but architecture based on urban responsibility, functional efficiency, simple and elegant form, technical refinement and environmental responsibility." Photo credit - http://www.designyourway.net
As for Success and Failure, The design and architecture of the Pisa Tower, is world renown, but it is fair to say that the original goal of the architect was not to design a crooked bell tower for the city's cathedral. In essense, his creation was a failure, regardles of the fact that millions of tourists come to view this famous landmark more than 600 years later.
The goal of the designers for the Veer Towers in Las Vegas, was to intentionally captivate it's audience with this unique "out of balance" structure that offers the same allure as the leaning Pisa Bell Tower. In my opinion, Jahn's design is a success, because one can not help but be drawn to the contrast of these leaning buildings compared to their perfectly vertical neighbors.
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