Favorite DL Architecture?

[StrikeYerColors]

I've got one last essay for my 'writing about art' class, and it's on architecture. As soon as they told us it had to be a building we could go see in person, I immediately thought of Disneyland. Where else could I go to see man interesting buildings in one place, haha?

So I don't have the prompt yet, but when I get it, I'll post it for your guys to see.

What Disneyland building do you think I could write about? I suppose it could also be about a building that is NOT successful in terms of it's design, and then give reasons why.

Ideas? My first thought was obviously the castle, but I don't know if it really counts right now since you can go in it these past few years. Also, the TDA yellow building would be interesting to write about (and criticize?), but I'd have to actually be backstage to take my notes and do my sketches.

[DisneyIPresume]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?

TDA building -- if you can access it. Designed if I am not mistaken by Frank Gehry.

[Pisces]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?

I like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. You know English building and design can sometimes be very cold and austere. Not much warmth in heavy Tudor, or Gothic styles.

But, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride has a lot of warmth and charm, kind of evocative of the delightful English countryside......if I'm remembering the ride correctly .

The turrets, the mansard roof, the dimmed lights, the warmth of Mr. Toad himself...it all adds up to a very quaint and homey type of atmosphere.

And, it's one of a kind. You probably won't see that type of themeing, or ride, ever again .

[sir clinksalot]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?

I think it'd be cool to do it on some of the buildings in Storybook land. About the details of each area, etc.

[DisneyIPresume]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?

You also might want to take a look at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Grand Ave. in downtown LA if you want to do something somewhat related to Disney but not Disneyland itself.

[Datameister]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?

Large green show buildings. That's what I'd do, at least.

As far as onstage goes, I'd have to say the buildings of NOS and the overall layout of the place. The use of facades on much larger, hidden show buildings is fascinating. The convoluted layout makes the place feel much larger than it is, and the countless details create an end result that is beautiful, interesting, and charming, rather than overwhelming. Really amazing place.

[bearride]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?

I have actualy used Disneyland this same topic when I was in college (Although I had to write it on a TYPEWRITER! Ugh, I feel old ) My final topic was entitled "Disneyland's Ever Changing Tomorrow(land)"

[fo'c's'le swab]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?


IMO, no structure at Disneyland is more evocative than the HM's facade. In addition, with the possible exception of Sleeping Beauty's Castle, there is no other building with greater form or less function, I'd argue.

[aashee]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?

I dropped by to say the Haunted Mansion. Fo'C beat me to it.

[Ducktales88]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?

Dunno if it's what your looking for but Space Mountain is pretty neat!

[anaheimgirl79]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?

how about disneys grand californian hotel..and spa?

[HeyBaloo]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?

The TDA building and Disney Hall were both designed by Frank Gehry. The outer panels on the TDA building are interesting because they change colors based on where you view them from. Gehry is a master of the effects light plays in and outside of his designs.

While more of a facade , "It's a Small World" was designed by Mary Blair, and is an amazing Disney icon. It also is a great example of function following form when you consider that it is also a giant clock. The Blair style was a real influence in advertising and publishing in the 60's.

Also while still technically a building, "Splash Mountain" is another cool example.

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?

CAVEAT: Keep in mind Disney likes to blend and Disneyfy actual architectural styles, so if you study the castle for example it's a hodge podge of different eras and Disney pixie dust. Likewise the Fantasyland facades.

Better off on Main Street, New Orleans Square or as someone said the Grand Californian which is a Disneyfied neo-Arts & Crafts style.

[Datameister]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?

CAVEAT: Keep in mind Disney likes to blend and Disneyfy actual architectural styles, so if you study the castle for example it's a hodge podge of different eras and Disney pixie dust. Likewise the Fantasyland facades.

Better off on Main Street, New Orleans Square or as someone said the Grand Californian which is a Disneyfied neo-Arts & Crafts style.

Very true that these are blends--but that doesn't make them less legitimate topics for study. If anything, that makes them more unique and more worthy of in-depth study, since the various architectural styles they're derived from have already been studied so well.

EDIT: And the Haunted Mansion is indeed a very cool one, too. Particularly if you look at the entire facility, which encompasses the facade, the basement beneath the facade, the passage beneath the berm, and the show building itself (which has aboveground and underground areas). If you were interested--and I wouldn't be at all insulted if you weren't--I'd be happy to put together a render for your project that illustrates how the two go together.

[StrikeYerColors]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?

I have definitely considered doing HM, datameister, and I'd love to see how this building works. I've seen a map of the ride track itself, with the house and elevators marked on the map, but since the show building is so well hidden, I'm having trouble visualizing it.

Certainly one of the benefits of doing HM is that it is a reproduction of a real building in a style of architecture with a rich history.

The castle would also be interesting because I know it's based on a real castle, but it's so Disney-fied that it would be interesting to discuss the various styles that went into making it.

I would LOVE to do small world because I am a Mary Blair fan, but I wont because it's mostly a facade. I'm pretty sure that my professors would like us to think about the more 3-D and functional aspects of the building, even discussing the inside a bit, so I need something that can be walked around a little more than small world, and viewed from different angles.

As for the Grand Californian, it is very clearly in the Arts & Crafts (Craftsman) style, and we did talk about this a bit in class (there are a lot of tiny Craftsman bungalows in Orange around my school) and I brought it up as an example (of course I had to drag Disney into it, haha). It seems like an obvious choice, but of course there is a wealth of information of it. It just doesn't hold my interest the way HM or the castle does.

And the TDA building would be very interesting to write about, but I really don't see the CMs just letting me walk around it back there to sketch it. Ah well.

As for the Concert Hall in LA, Disneyland is actually just so close to me that it's far more convenient for me to just hop over, and I'd feel very comfortable sitting around sketching, whereas I've hardly been to LA (or even out of this area of OC) since i've been at school, and it's a bit of a hike.


Thank you guys for all your ideas! It's been really helpful.

Here's my prompt, for anyone who's still interested:

[SciFi96]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?

What a cool project. Not only do you get to study architecture, but use Disneyland as the subject matter.

[SciFi96]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?

When thinking about "Relation of the building to its site (surrounding buildings, landscape, topography, sight-lines, means of access (e.g. paths)" I thought that Pinnocchio's Village Haus would be a good idea because of the view from the northwest of its front facade with the Matterhorn behind it. That would make an interesting study.

[DisneyIPresume]

Re: Favorite DL Architecture?

As for the Concert Hall in LA, Disneyland is actually just so close to me that it's far more convenient for me to just hop over, and I'd feel very comfortable sitting around sketching, whereas I've hardly been to LA (or even out of this area of OC) since i've been at school, and it's a bit of a hike.


Thank you guys for all your ideas! It's been really helpful.

Here's my prompt, for anyone who's still interested:

That's really too bad. It is quite an amazing building. You actually can walk onto it and roam around in and around it. There are many stairways going around this building with a nice garden area with tables and fountains. Quite impressive. It is really hare to describe in words. If you ever do get out there you should check it out just for the heck of it.