To me, just as "new and different" does not automatically equal bad, neither does it automatically equal good.

Frank Gehry designs buildings that are simultaneously unique, non-traditional, AND eye-pleasing. I much prefer his style of architectural rebelion to the anti-asthetic industrial look of the Pompidou.

And yet it seems every city now must have a Gehry - which ultimately seems to undermine their uniqueness.

I concede that Gehry's use of more organic forms is more eye pleasing, but Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini's Pompidou I think tickles the imagination of turning a building inside out.

Yeah, Gehry's getting a little trendy, so his designs are probably not the place to go to break new ground anymore. But that's usually the end point of any successful groundbreaker. I just brought him up as an example of how once can break the mold without being ugly.

Googling other work by Piano and Rogers, I like the other stuff they've done a lot more than the Pompidou. I respect the concept, but dislike the asthetics. But I've also always disliked interior spaces with exposed duct work. I tend to prefer things that manage to be equally conceptual/utilitarian and asthetic. I see a difference between redefining asthetics vs. completely rejecting it.

And for the record, at least according to google and other sites, Franchini (designer of the contentious Louvre pyramid, which I happen to have an affinity for) did not work on the Pompidou.

I will say that I find the front of the building (with the escalator) less unappealing than the side with the colored ducts. Too primary, kinda garish.

Hmmm, could be - I pulled it from a Pompidou Site that claimed:

But, I have no direct knowledge of who was in the architectural team and how their roles played out in its construction

Interesting. I wonder if maybe Franchini was in on the concept stage for the competition but not in the actual construction phase.

EDIT: Ah, I found one source that credits Franchini with the interior design.

I suggest we book a trip to Paris to investigate this further - some questions are too important to rely on the internet for an answer ;)

Have you perhaps not SEEN the EMP building? I'd take the Pompidou any day over the monument to rainbow vomit.

So, Chris Googled the EMP building to get a picture, I glanced over and said "Is it being tented?"

Aww, I love the EMP building. It was the first Gehry building I ever saw, as a matter of fact.