Locals in Edinburgh, Scotland think that a new W Hotel being built as part of a new development literally looks like one giant poop popping up on the horizon.
The denizens of Edinburgh are making a big stink out of the architecture's suggestive aesthetic – some with relentless humor.
A petition to put googly eyes on it to mimic a life-size poop emoji has circulated online and it has received over 1,600 signatures.
"It's vital to humanize new architecture," joked one advocate.
Another quipped:
"I've never signed a more important petition."
When traveling to Edinburgh, make sure to stay at the Poop Emoji Hotelhttps://fark.com/go/11575781— Fark (@Fark) 1625804100
Called the "Walnut Whip," the new 12-story hotel boasting 244 rooms will open next year as part of St James Quarter – a new four-story retail center located at the end of Princes Street that opened to the public on June 24.
However, locals gave the hotel a new moniker ahead of its 2022 opening.
The Walnut Whip? I don\u2019t think so. The Golden Turd is the name locals give this oversized folly.\n\n\u2018St James Quarter also includes Scotland's first W Hotel, known locally as the Walnut Whip.\u2019 \n\nHow has Edinburgh's landscape changed in a year?https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-56351231\u00a0\u2026— Fay Young (@Fay Young) 1615675343
"The St James Quarter also includes Scotland's first W Hotel, known locally as the Walnut Whip."\n\nI don't think so https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-56351231\u00a0\u2026— Dr Willie Stewart (@Dr Willie Stewart) 1615677616
The home page for the development's website boasts a photo depicting the dawning of a new day with the hotel's majestic turd-like spire dominating the Scottish skyline.
stjamesquarter.com
Architects Jestico + Whiles described the hotel on their website as:
"A bundle of 'coiled ribbons', creating a free-flowing and bold building which complement the development's masterplan".
They also said the building would:
"..feature a striking exterior façade, evoking the festival spirit of Edinburgh and creating a landmark building at the heart of the city."
"Crafted from a winding steel 'ribbon', the design has been likened to spirals of paper, a reference to the many printing presses which occupied surrounding areas in times past."
Social media users had a difficult time digesting the architectural firm's sincere description of the hotel.
https://www.insider.com/posh-new-hotel-scotland-mocked-for-looking-like-poop-emoji-2021-7\u00a0\u2026— \u262e\ufe0f \ud83d\udd4a \ud83e\udd8b\ud83d\udc2c Noelle \u270a\u270a\u270a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf86\ud83c\udf05 (@\u262e\ufe0f \ud83d\udd4a \ud83e\udd8b\ud83d\udc2c Noelle \u270a\u270a\u270a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf86\ud83c\udf05) 1625769100
\u2026\n\nWhere are you staying?\nAt the Poop!— Reena (@Reena) 1625850776
Could call it "pooy mcpooface"— \u2299\u00bf\u2299 \u026f\u0279o\u028do\u0183uoq (@\u2299\u00bf\u2299 \u026f\u0279o\u028do\u0183uoq) 1625851960
When the four-story shopping area attached to the hotel flooded on Sunday due to extreme rainfall, the mockery continued.
Don\u2019t be blaming me for the flooding btw\u2026pic.twitter.com/t5xumDPd0S— Golden Turd Hotel (@Golden Turd Hotel) 1625473597
@PlanningShit couldn\u2019t make it any worse\u2026— carolyn petrie (@carolyn petrie) 1625484929
An unofficial poll run by the Twitter account for "Crappy Cheapo Architecture" designated the Walnut Whip as the worst building of 2020.
In a surprising landslide victory, the Edinburgh Turd Hotel wins worst building of 2020! https://twitter.com/CheapoCrappy/status/1344692807886364672\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/dtkQAvw9Q6— Crappy Cheapo Architecture (@Crappy Cheapo Architecture) 1609970028
Perhaps the addition of googly eyes on the building as suggested by the viral petition would be a slight improvement.