The upside down hotel said to have inspired Star Wars faces demolition | CNN

The influence of Hotel du Lac in Tunis, shaped like an upside-down pyramid with serrated edges, would later be seen in the fictional Sandcrawler vehicle used by the Jawas of the Tatooine desert planet in the film.

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Hôtel du Lac, Tunis - Wikipedia

The striking design, departing from traditional Arab and European architecture, made the hotel a symbol of modernism in Tunis. It remains an important example of Brutalism in North Africa. Its distinctive shape has prompted comparisons with the sandcrawler vehicle of the Star Wars films.

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The hotel was privatised in the 1990, but it fell into disrepair and closed in 2000. It was bought by the Libyan Arab Foreign Investment Company (LAFICO) in 2013, which proposed demolishing the building and spending up to $100m to replace it with a new five-star hotel tower. Concerns about imminent demolition were raised again in 2019.

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[–] SorosFootSoldier@hexbear.net 11 points 1 year ago

Bullshit they want to demolish it

The hotel was privatised in the 1990

Go woke go broke!

[–] Paradachshund@lemmy.today 9 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Normally I don't like brutalist stuff, but this is actually pretty cool

[–] Flyberius@hexbear.net 14 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Brutalism + greenery is always a good combo I think

[–] FlakesBongler@hexbear.net 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You gotta have the plants

It's the thing that separates the "This is meant to be oppressive" from the "Concrete is cheap, strong and gives you nice sharp corners"

[–] GVAGUY3@hexbear.net 6 points 1 year ago

I live near an old neighborhood that is being redeveloped. Many of the new buildings don't feel soulless because they actually are built around the trees that have grown for the past 70ish years. The size of Trees really helps and keeping as many old trees as possible really helps.

[–] iridaniotter@hexbear.net 9 points 1 year ago

Also this is brown, not gray, and the edges have an interesting geometry.

Personally I think brutalism works best when you integrate it into a park or other kind of large public complex.

[–] Paradachshund@lemmy.today 4 points 1 year ago

That's a good call. I grew up in Seattle, and there's a brutalist park called Freeway Park that is absolutely full of plants and I really like that one too.

[–] Awoo@hexbear.net 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Have you seen the Barbican in London? Entire brutalist district that you'd probably love. Brutalism + plant life is extremely pleasant.

[–] Paradachshund@lemmy.today 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh wow! That is really cool. I went to London once, but I didn't get to this apparently. Wish I'd known about it.

[–] Awoo@hexbear.net 3 points 1 year ago

One of the strongest demonstrations the brutalism can actually feel futurist and very liveable. It's a really nice vibe with the water too, very peaceful.

[–] DyingOfDeBordom@hexbear.net 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

why bother having a building build outward like that and not have windows on that side to maximize the view