Not long ago (January 1), a 11-year-old man committed suicide by jumping off The Vessel (the building in the picture), becoming the third person to commit suicide here within a year of opening to the public. 

The Vessel, needless to say, everyone is also very clear. As a rare internationally representative internet celebrity landmark, it has been hotly searched when it comes out of the concept map. It has attracted much attention from both the architectural style and the designer behind it. .

But in just one year, three suicides occurred one after another, causing it to be shut down.

Originally it was in controversy because of the new architectural style that was too advanced, but now it has been doubled in doubt due to the suicide incident, and it has been criticized by everyone as being too inconsistent with the architectural design.

The once-hot Internet celebrity landmark has now turned into a “killing building” and fell from the altar of the gods. Is all this really a pot of “design”?

· Britain’s hottest ghost designer

Back then, The Vessel attracted much attention when it was decided to build the largest complex in New York (Hudson Yards). In addition, it was created by the British design genius Thomas Heatherwick, which can be said to be a gimmick.

Design ghost Thomas Heatherwick, even if you haven't remembered his name completely, you don't know his talent, it doesn't matter, but you must know his work.

Ten years ago, the "Sanctuary Seed" in the British Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo was one of his works. 6 acrylic poles are shaped into a "dandelion".No one is surprised at this building, this large-scale work of art.

The proposal of this work successfully defeated the design plan of the devil Zaha, and from here, Thomas Heatherwick became famous in China.

Later, he built a dancing building in Shanghai.The 675 hanging aluminum alloy tassels are arranged in a wonderful arc, like a traditional Chinese theater curtain.

Because the curtain can open and close freely, rotate and move, it looks like a dancing house.

And his "1000 trees" in Shanghai. Just look at these pictures and you will know that they are old acquaintances.

But its construction has always been complained by netizens like a "cemetery".

However, no matter how many praises and doubts there are, there is no denying that Thomas Heatherwick is a veritable design ghost.

· The Vessel was built in controversy·

The same is true for the building he is working on called The Vessel. From the appearance of it, it is quite different from traditional buildings.

It is inspired by the shape of Indian step wells.

▸ India step well

Carefully observe the overall architectural appearance of The Vessel. It only has 16-story stairs, 2465 steps, and 80 platforms surrounded by a circular shape, and then it is gone, which is weird. It seems that it is neither an office building, but more Not a house?So what is it, can it be qualified to occupy the C position of New York's largest complex?

There is more than one Rizhanjun who has the same problem. It has been questioned by netizens, "How should this building be defined? Is it a building, an installation, or an art exhibition."

In the face of doubt, Thomas Heatherwick's partner at Architecture Studio once explained:

People often ask us, what is this?Is it a viewing platform?It is not a building, sculpture, or artwork, but it has all types of characteristics. To a certain extent, we think it is a piece of furniture.

· Safety hazards: 16 storeys high, open, railing and waist· 

But no matter what it is defined as, the hidden dangers about it have existed from the moment it was established.

Let's take a look at the basic configuration of The Vessel.Neither the ground floor nor the 16th floor has too much safety protection. The open platform and railings are not too high, just just reaching the waist.

Not only that, but from some angles, it looks like an Escher-like visual effect.

And when looking down from a high place, there is an inexplicable dizziness.

It seems that when all these add up, it is fatal for a person who has thoughts of suicide. Some media even preached that "before this project was completed, I knew something was going to happen."

But at first, with such an open platform design, Thomas Heatherwick hoped that people would come here, not just take a look, take a picture and leave, but really gather together.

His expectation is that The Vessel will be a fun-filled social place instead of a rigid static sculpture.People should be involved in all kinds of activities.

What I never expected is that it is this kind of inspiration that provides a venue for people who want to commit suicide.

The successive suicides of The Vessel also made everyone think about whether "public safety" should be placed before "art vision"?

· For the sake of safety hazards, The Vessel changed its plan·

In order to further prevent suicides, the developer's board of directors decided that they may need to increase the height of the guardrail.

Although this may damage the artistry of the installation, it may be the only feasible way for the sake of life safety.

Presumably, under everyone's attention, the art vision has made concessions between "public safety" and "art vision".

· Netizens' controversy·

But on the Internet, the debate among netizens on this matter has intensified.Among them, some netizens believe that "architectural design" caused all this.

The spiral and centripetal structure makes people feel like they want to fly to the center of the earth.

Architecture has a psychological effect.And The Vessel gave people a strong sense of oppression.

However, some netizens believe that it is really unnecessary to throw suicide on "design".

It's even ridiculous.

Perhaps more consideration should be given to social and psychological factors.

After all, none of us can wake up a person pretending to be asleep.

Of course, there are some netizens who don't care about these disputes. They still like this building and call it a work of genius.

Not only netizens are talking hotly, but even Audrey Wachs, former deputy editor-in-chief of The Architect's Newspaper, commented, “In essence, Vessel is a huge staircase. In such a structure, wheelchair or stroller users can Find a real sense of belonging?"

After the third suicide, he commented again, "I knew there was a suicide problem long before Vessel was built."

Design violations and induce suicide.It seemed that in an instant, The Vessel became a target of public criticism.

But we should keep a clear-headed look at the nature of things. Three young people chose to jump off from the 16th floor. Is it really the responsibility of a building to end their lives spontaneously?

So, if The Vessel is originally a building with high railings, can this be prevented?The answer is obvious.

A safe railing can only avoid accidental slips, not a suicide like this.

Although the relationship between "public safety" and "art vision", we need to look at and examine it again.

Perhaps we have been inclined, but for The Vessel, whether looking inward or outward from the highest point, whether it is the eye of the devil or the embrace of an angel, the answer to this question already exists in everyone's heart.

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