I hate the Triangle

I’ve hated the Triangle since construction on the unwieldy thing began. I drive by it basically every day and wondered if it was going to get any better. It hasn’t. I thought I was alone in my revulsion for the Triangle, so I was glad to stumble across an awesome new urban design blog that analyzes why the building is so bad. Here’s a clip from the very well-written article:

If you drive over to the Triangle (which you have to do because the city did nothing to improve pedestrian conditions at this very busy intersection), you’ll see that Triangle Square is closed off from the surrounding streets and neighborhoods. Designers could have placed the park on the east side of the development or further north, near the Triangle’s shops. In either of those locations it would have been accessible to pedestrians, patrons, and nearby government employees who might like to have a nice outdoor lunch. The park is instead reserved solely for residents. Those residents seem to be using it so far as a reservoir for dog poop.

Not only does the layout cut off outsiders; it cuts off its own residents. People living in the two buildings on the south end must walk through the public parking lot to get to the Triangle’s shops and restaurants.

I don’t know much about urban design, but I do know this building gives off an imposing prison type aura. It’s so tall and close to the road, the little windows make me think of jail cells. I can’t imagine living there let alone paying the $1,000 + monthly rent.