Rybczynski throws us a couple bones (he hypothesizes that part of the problem with architecture in SF may be that the city is already too pretty, and notes that also-gorgeous Rio has horrible architecture too. Also, the Victorians are cute.) but then rips into the rest of the city, slamming the SFMOMA as "self-conscious and out of scale," and calling the Main Library "a tepid exercise in postmodernism" (and points out that it doesn't have enough space for books either). And -- ouch, this hurts -- he says that when Hyatt Regency at Embarcadero 5 is the "best interior space in the city," things aren't looking so hot for us out here in the West Coast. The tiles on the floor of that hotel hurt our eyes!

Rybczynski does say he thinks the DeYoung might be okay (and promises a column about it later), and we'd be interested in hearing what he thinks about the new federal building on Mission and 7th -- but, well.... um, John King, it's your move!

Picture of the Marriott Hotel across the street from the Metreon, which John King says is his least favorite SF building ever.