Swastika Shaped Building In San Diego - by design or accident

[Flabbergasted]

http://www.trap17.com/index.php/swastika-shaped-building-san-diego_t33409.html

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Tulagi+Rd.,+San+Diego,+CA&ll=32.675605,-117.157366&spn=0.003749,0.009418&t=k&hl=en

By design or accident, it's a momentary eye opening moment when you look at this image that Google map has captured. Click here to see for yourself.

Sometimes the best method that a man can think of ends up twisted than what it should be perceived as. Just keep in mind that this may have been some architectural planning and not to promote you know what. But then again, on the ground level you would never know if it shaped like that. So there might be a hidden agenda.



Commentary

So far, I haven't been able to find anything about this building, but I believe that it really is a part of a Naval base. So, if anyone finds themselves at 32 40'34.09" N, 117 09'27.96 W be sure to look it up.
SocalDudeMar 26 2006, 09:25 PM

It indeed is apart of a US Naval Base. It is designated Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Coronado. This portion of the island was created (and yes I mean created) in 1943 when the harbor was dredged to allow for larger ships. The base was commissioned in 1944. It is used to train navy SEALS and is the only amphibious base on the West Coast. Other than that, I have no further information.

[Blue_Tires]

1. i think it's by design....

why? i have no idea....

[Ecumenist]

4. I do too, Blue Tires

You don't accidently build something and have it turn out this way... You need permits for bloody everything...

[OzarkDem]

25. Its a Navy base, fer crissake

thousands of Navy men were killed and ships destroyed by the Nazis during WWII.

They don't forget that kind of thing. I seriously doubt this was intentional.

[Ecumenist]

2. Oh my God...

This is just creepy beyond belief. Especially considering it's on a a naval base. What does this say about the direction that we may very well be headed, considering the history of the bush family?

[cassiepriam]

23. It says it all..... nt

[SeveneightyWhoa]

29. What? The Bushies built this naval base now?

Perhaps George W. built it with his bare hands?

C'mon now.

[MADem]

3. That looks like four distinct L shaped buildings to my eye

The placement is certainly unfortunate, to put it mildly! Could it be fleet barracks?? It's certainly close enough to the piers to serve that function...

[Sinti]

5. Why do you hate America? ;)

I've only seen this one on real CT sites. Weird, huh. I don't imagine they considered the shape of the building from an aerial view when designing it back in '44-45.

Raises and eyebrow though. :crazy:

[Flabbergasted]

7. Building Planning has considered top view for hundreds of years

It was suggested there were additions made to this building as time went on??

[ThoughtCriminal]

6. I think the idea is maximize rooms with exterior windows

in a given area.

"X", "U" and "H" shaped buildings are often built that way. The "H" shape was especially popular for hotels before central air conditioning. I wonder when they were built?

Edit:
Found answer - they predate WW-2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika#Popular_culture_and_modern_media

[Monk06]

22. "I think the idea is maximize rooms with exterior windows" Yup. See...

the design requirements for the Pentagon by Bergstrom.

This building seems to have the same design parameters;

1) Maximum use of windows for natural light and ventilation

2) Four floors or less.

3)No elevators.

4) Access from one wing to another accross courtyards to minimise
walking distance between offices

[Kellanved]

8. The picture circulated shortly after google maps started

It sure looks funny from the air, but trying to read anything into it is just pointless.

[blondeatlast]

9. With all due respect, the swastika is a SACRED symbol

to the Hindus, Buddhists, Native Americans, and another religion whose name escapes me.

When you think about its use in architecture, it is quite space efficient. This isn't the first building I've seen shaped this way. It's a very simple geometric form--it would be difficult for a culture NOT to discover it!

From Wikipedia:

The ubiquity of the swastika symbol is easily explained by it being a very simple symbol that will arise independently in any basketweaving society. The swastika is a repeating design, created by the edges of the reeds in a square basket-weave. Other theories attempt to establish a connection via cultural diffusion or an explanation along the lines of Carl Jung's collective unconscious.

I understand the anguish attached to the symbol, but I can't see a need for a tinfoil hat in theis case.

Your mileage may differ.

[Flabbergasted]

11. Bush Family is the name you're missing...

[blondeatlast]

14. Could you clarify?

Seriously, it would be nearly impossible NOT to use the swastika in modern architectural forms.

It's a perfect geometric.

You are entitled to your opinion, but my life is too damn short to see evil in everything, especially when it's so damn simple to consider other intentions, as in this case.

[Flabbergasted]

16. Confucius

I was half joking but I do consider these people fascists....

[blondeatlast]

17. Ah, okay. Now I get it. Sorry. nt

[Flabbergasted]

13. And Confucius

[WePurrsevere]

20. Yes, it's considered to be the oldest known symbol & used to be a positive

Although as you mentioned it is still a sacred symbol to some religions sadly to many it's meaning has changed dramatically to something representing horrendously evil. It's now hard for many, including myself, to see the symbol without cringing at what it now brings to mind and memory even though logically we know it wasn't originally meant to symbolize "bad/evil". :(

As for the buildings... in 1943 it could have symbolized something positive when it was designed... or it could have been done without thought... or it could be like seeing kittens, castles, etc in the shapes of clouds... without knowing more facts I'd be hard pressed to hazard a SWAG.

From HERE:

The swastika is an ancient symbol that has been used for over 3,000 years. (That even predates the ancient Egyptian symbol, the Ankh!) Artifacts such as pottery and coins from ancient Troy show that the swastika was a commonly used symbol as far back as 1000 BCE.

During the following thousand years, the image of the swastika was used by many cultures around the world, including in China, Japan, India, and southern Europe. By the Middle Ages, the swastika was a well known, if not commonly used, symbol but was called by many different names:

* China - wan
* England - fylfot
* Germany - Hakenkreuz
* Greece - tetraskelion and gammadion
* India - swastika

Though it is not known for exactly how long, Native Americans also have long used the symbol of the swastika.

The Original Meaning

The word "swastika" comes from the Sanskrit svastika - "su" meaning "good," "asti" meaning "to be," and "ka" as a suffix.

Until the Nazis used this symbol, the swastika was used by many cultures throughout the past 3,000 years to represent life, sun, power, strength, and good luck.

Even in the early twentieth century, the swastika was still a symbol with positive connotations. For instance, the swastika was a common decoration that often adorned cigarette cases, postcards, coins, and buildings. During World War I, the swastika could even be found on the shoulder patches of the American 45th Division and on the Finnish air force until after World War II.

[Sinti]

21. 'Tis true. Mongolian shamans, for instance, still use it.

It is very positive to them. :)

[MADem]

10. OK, this bugged me, so I decided to get to the bottom of it!!!

Or at least give it a go!

I guess this was quite the web topic last year.

it turns out that this was part of the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. Streets are named after Japanese World War II battles. The structure I previously blogged about is part of an (naval?) avaition scene, with two planes looking like they're attacking the symbol in question.


While I don't understand why you would want a building in that shape, I guess you have to look at the bigger picture....

http://nutshell02.blogspot.com/2005/07/naval-amphibious-base-nab-coronado.html


And here, some fellah says it's the BOQ--sounds about right to me: http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=109;t=000912;p=1

[Flabbergasted]

12. Very cool Thanks!

[blondeatlast]

15. Snopes link doesn't work for me. nt

[MADem]

18. Give this a try....it's just a discussion board about the subject

http://tinyurl.com/foy7j

[lostexpectation]

19. wow

so it was designed that way on purpose ha!

[OzarkDem]

26. Very clever

buildings shaped like planes attacking another building shaped like the Nazi symbol.

[sarcasmo]

24. self delete

[GetTheRightVote]

27. They make models of these types of buildings so it was obvious

when viewing the model, it had to be.

:kick:

[Neil Lisst]

28. the architect, engineers, contractors - all looked at this on the plans

every day for 6 months

everyone had to know what it would look like when built

[SeveneightyWhoa]

30. Indeed. And that was BEFORE Google Maps!

Imagine their reactions now that their secret has been discovered!

:eyes: