Project’s Developer Criticizes Critique

Architecture, as beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Therefore, I have no argument with the point of view expressed by Aaron Betsky in his Dec. 17 critique of the Water Garden in Santa Monica.

However, I was amazed at the lengths to which Betsky went to justify his position, referring to the Water Garden as a “symbol of the type of isolated, anti-contextual office buildings produced by the confluence of the Reagan-Bush economy and the rise of postmodernism.” How pompous can you get?

Betsky grudgingly admitted that he would probably enjoy working at the Water Garden. Well, I am sure that he would, just as those who work and visit it every day enjoy being there. That’s what we set out to do and that, in my opinion, is what architecture is about.

I’m not alone in my opinion. The Water Garden has been the recipient of two Golden Nugget awards, one for best land planning, and one for best architecture in a commercial building over 100,000 square feet, as well as two L.A. Beautiful awards, one for architecture and the other for landscaping.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion. It sounded to me, however, as though Betsky has an ax to grind. I wonder what it is. I was not surprised when I learned that Betsky teaches architecture. I would be interested in seeing buildings that he has designed.

MILTON I. SWIMMER

Los Angeles

Swimmer is a partner in J.H. Snyder Co., developers of the Water Garden complex.