Carbuncles, Columns, and Pyramids: Lay and Expert Evaluations of Contextual Design Strategies

Abstract

The concept of contextual compatibility has in recent years been the focus of highly contentious debates on the merits of various architectural and urban design projects, particularly those of symbolic importance to the public realm. Consider, for example, two projects that were subjected to intense scrutiny and debate within the last decade: the addition to the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square in London and the addition to the Louvre Museum in Paris.