Commenters think Kanye West's low-cost housing "doesn't look affordable"

In this week's comments update, readers are critiquing Kanye West's latest prototype for his low-cost housing for the homeless and sharing their views on other top stories.

Musician and designer Kanye West has posted a photo on Twitter showing numerous unfinished structures, described in the caption as YZY shelters.

Featuring wooden frames and domed metalwork they are the latest prototype for West's prefabricated, affordable housing for the homeless – the musician's first architecture project.

"How will this proposal be affordable?"

Dezeen commenters aren't impressed though. "I'm not sure a multi-millionaire understands 'affordable'," said Mark Younger.

Jonathan agreed: "If he wants to house the homeless – I mean, really wants to house them, rather than using them for some vainglorious ego boost – then he could quite easily do so in one of his many homes and and attached grounds."

"Homeless people would prefer support to get access to conventional apartments rather than live in Star Wars village," added Davide.

"How will this proposal be affordable?" asked James Brian. "Reinforced concrete and curves are never an economical use of either materials or spatial efficiency when tight budgets and high volumes are required. Even harder to create in a prefabricated environment. I appreciate ambition, but only when it serves humanity and isn't self serving."

Are readers being harsh? Join the discussion ›

"Thankfully none of those ridiculous concepts have been taken seriously"

Commenters are divided after French president Emmanuel Macron announced that Notre-Dame's spire will be rebuilt exactly as it was before last year's devastating fire.

"This is the correct decision," said Alfred Hitchcock, on one hand. "Thankfully none of those ridiculous, self-promotional concepts produced by egotistical architects have been taken seriously."

"While I would have appreciated the symbolism of the cathedral continuing to adapt and expand through the ages as it has in the past, sometimes it's best to give the people what they want," added Rthko.

Jacob Volanski disagreed: "Erasing the memory of the fire from the great cathedral seems dishonest, and quite frankly far more traditional than I would expect from the French people. A great disappointment."

Is this the right decision for Notre-Dame cathedral? Join the discussion ›

Commenters wonder if "architects should get involved" with designing memorials

British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye has designed a memorial in Brixton for Cherry Groce, an innocent black woman shot by London's Metropolitan Police in her own home in 1985. But readers have reservations.

"Should architects really get involved in such monuments?" asked Jb. "It tends to shift attention away from what or who is being memorialised and onto the architecture statement itself."

Cubist was also hesitant: "It's not clear how the geometric brutalism of this structure references Cherry's life or indeed memorialises her. Are the triangular forms pertinent? Were the family allowed any input into the design of the memorial?"

"The flowers are difficult to access to take care of them," concluded Gardener.

What do you think of Adjaye's design for the memorial? Join the discussion ›

One reader would "rather distinguish between good and bad design" than skin colour

Ethiopia American industrial designer Jomo Tariku recorded the designer of each collection from 150 of the world's leading furniture brands listed on the Swiss products site Architonic over the past year. He found that just 0.32 per cent of the designers were black, sparking debate amongst readers.

"Should anyone be surprised by this?" asked Individualism. "These are private companies and if their brand is based on national style, no big surprise there may be an over-representation of Italian/Scandinavian designers."

"I would rather distinguish between good and bad design, " added Lorenzo Corti. "The designer's ethnicity or colour of their skin is not really something I care about."

"The question is how many black designers are in the world versus non-black," continued Bill H, "since this only considers those constituencies. Only then can a true statistic be measured."

Are you surprised by the results? Join the discussion ›

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