But... the ROSE GARDEN!

[Gypsy]

This is not a political thread. I'd feel this way no matter WHO did this.

This is not AI either. It's real. They took out the White House Lawn and the Rose Garden. This hit me like a punch in my gut. I went to Europe last year and there were so many efforts to increase green space and save pollinators and.... this happens here. I am actually nauseated. And flabbergasted.

 

[nala]

Agree

 

[Calliecake]

i also agree. This is ugly. I love gardens and green spaces. I wonder how many people thought this was a good idea? It looks hideous.

Wasn't the Rose Garden completely redone about 7 years ago?

 

[kenny]

But but but ...

America is finally GREAT Again.

 

[nala]

It’s a metaphor. Period.

 

[MissGotRocks]

Terrible. . . there is a 200 million dollar ball room to come. . .

 

[Matata]

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone?
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
Ooh, bop-bop-bop
Ooh, bop-bop-bop (na-na-na-na-na)
They took all the trees and put 'em in a tree museum
And they charged the people a dollar and a half to see them
No, no, no

(They Paved Paradise and Put Up a Parking Lot - Joni Mitchell)

 

[autumngems]

The only part that is paved is the lawn in the middle, the roses are staying/

"You know, we use [the Rose Garden] for press conferences, and it doesn’t work because the people fall,” he said. “The terrain can be wet, and the soft ground can be an issue for some... Women, with the high heels, it just didn’t work.”
“The roses stay. No, it's a rose garden,” he continued. “No, all of this is just the center
section

 

[lala646]

Klassy, isn't it?

 

[elizat]

I don't like it. At all. If they wanted to have some areas with hard surfaces to facilitate walking for those with mobility issues on grass or people in heels, there were ways to do it without a giant blazing white square.

 

[Lookinagain]

Whatever the reason, it's ugly. There is temporary flooring. If the worry is about high heels and people falling, use that. Probably would have been cheaper too. I hope someone tears it up and puts the grass back. The least they could have done is make it attractive, perhaps something like thisif they really insisted on doing it:

 

[autumngems]

I think it will look modern and lovely for the White House. That temporary stuff looks like something from a yard sale when I have seen it used, not in keeping with what I think the White House wants to show. And the roses stay

 

[elizat]

Whatever the reason, it's ugly. There is temporary flooring. If the worry is about high heels and people falling, use that. Probably would have been cheaper too. I hope someone tears it up and puts the grass back. The least they could have done is make it attractive, perhaps something like thisif they really insisted on doing it:

Something like this would have been much better in something other than bright white. Or even side paths with a smaller middle grass area if the concern was the legitimate need for a hard surface. I have an elderly father in law with peripheral neuropathy so I can see where there might be a need for a surface that is hard for those with mobility issues. He doesn't do well at all with grass where it might have height differences he cannot see.

That said, I still don't like what was done. Many ways to make it more attractive!

 

[Lookinagain]

I think it will look modern and lovely for the White House. That temporary stuff looks like something from a yard sale when I have seen it used, not in keeping with what I think the White House wants to show. And the roses stay

We all have different tastes, but the WH is not a modern building and a big slab of concrete isn't attractive to me. So I stand by ugly. There is temporary outdoor flooring that looks like wood, such as this and then they only need to cover so much of the grass as is needed for the size of the crowd.

 

[Lookinagain]

Something like this would have been much better in something other than bright white. Or even side paths with a smaller middle grass area if the concern was the legitimate need for a hard surface. I have an elderly father in law with peripheral neuropathy so I can see where there might be a need for a surface that is hard for those with mobility issues. He doesn't do well at all with grass where it might have height differences he cannot see.

That said, I still don't like what was done. Many ways to make it more attractive!

Yes, there are many options that would have been better. And I heard that the ballroom with be 90,000 sq. ft. Can that be true? So another expanse of lawn will be gone as well, I assume.

 

[elizat]

Yes, there are many options that would have been better. And I heard that the ballroom with be 90,000 sq. ft. Can that be true? So another expanse of lawn will be gone as well, I assume.

I'm wondering where too. I know East wing but that's it. I actually think that a ballroom may make sense for the White House, but not that size and not in the current time. And certainly not in the context of allegedly combatting fraud, waste and abuse. I probably cannot say too much more without crossing a line here.

ETA: the East Room can accommodate 200 ppl. I can see the potential need for something larger that is indoors. But... NOT what they plan on doing In any way, shape or form. And not in an alleged era of cost cutting.

 

[Lookinagain]

I'm wondering where too. I know East wing but that's it. I actually think that a ballroom may make sense for the White House, but not that size and not in the current time. And certainly not in the context of allegedly combatting fraud, waste and abuse. I probably cannot say too much more without crossing a line here.

ETA: the East Room can accommodate 200 ppl. I can see the potential need for something larger that is indoors. But... NOT what they plan on doing In any way, shape or form. And not in an alleged era of cost cutting.

Attached to the East Wing

I think this is it shown in an architects rendering

 

[ShinyPink]

It's ugly. Tacky. Unnecessary. Waste of money, although it was paid for by the Trust for the National Mall.

"Someone" said, "We’re getting great reviews of the Rose Garden, and we had to do it," per every freaking source on the planet. I also read it's supposed to resemble a certain other residence's patio.

Whatever. It's gross and embarrassing, no surprise.

 

[Calliecake]

I think it will look modern and lovely for the White House. That temporary stuff looks like something from a yard sale when I have seen it used, not in keeping with what I think the White House wants to show. And the roses stay

The temporary flooring would be removed after every meeting.

The White House is a Historic building. A modern aesthetic does not go well with the look of the White House. The roses are a small part of the whole picture as they frame the green space. The green space pulled the design together. Now It looks like a parking lot with some roses planted around it.

 

[Gypsy]

I think there are a lot of ways it could have been more organic, softer and still practical. The White House isn't just a utilitarian space. It's a monument and a national treasure.

 

[Matata]

The White House is a national historic landmark and there is an approval process for modifications. I wonder if the review/approvals for the ballroom happened.

 

[Calliecake]

Would it even matter @Matata? We all know everyone steps in line and agrees with everything someone wants.

Green space isn’t of any importance to this administration. Project 2025 told us that. I wonder how long before national park land is sold off.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

The only part that is paved is the lawn in the middle, the roses are staying/

"You know, we use [the Rose Garden] for press conferences, and it doesn’t work because the people fall,” he said. “The terrain can be wet, and the soft ground can be an issue for some... Women, with the high heels, it just didn’t work.”
“The roses stay. No, it's a rose garden,” he continued. “No, all of this is just the center
section

I am released to read this
I have been following from afare and I was a bit worried for the roses
But I also thought roses can be replaced and paving can be taken up and lawn can go back down
I love lawn but it also kind of makes sense that it is not practical for all weather

 

[Rebel Rebel]

I think it's a national disgrace. I read the other day that we're supposed to admire the drains crafted as American flags, as if that makes this awful installation better.

 

[Gypsy]

I mean they could have done a lovely pattern. It's a rose garden and they have MILLIONS. They could have done something like the below, but in a rose pattern. Now THAT would have been beautiful and practical, and it would have respected the rose garden aspect of it. They could have done beautiful pink terracotta roses and greenish grey foliage. It COULD have been a work of art. But.... nope.

 

[kenny]

The White House is a national historic landmark and there is an approval process for modifications. I wonder if the review/approvals for the ballroom happened.

Now that America is Great Again, DOGE has replaced approval "processes" with a 2-second process - a sharpie from a very special person.

Besides, all those annoying "process" people are fired.

Of course, all this is ONLY because it's so much more efficient.

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

It's the epitome of classless gauche and that gold leafed monstrosity of a bubo will be even more so.
He's trying to make it into one of his tacky Blahj Mahsmals so he can hold court.
His only true 'talent' was ever the gold leafer and curtain picker.

 

[Lookinagain]

although it was paid for by the Trust for the National Mall.

I heard him say he and private donors were paying for it. I believe he also posted on X that he was paying. Where did you see that the Trust is paying for it?

 

[Lookinagain]

It's the epitome of classless gauche and that gold leafed monstrosity of a bubo will be even more so.
He's trying to make it into one of his tacky Blahj Mahsmals so he can hold court.
His only true 'talent' was ever the gold leafer and curtain picker.

I thought he wanted the same palace Louis had.

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

I heard him say he and private donors were paying for it. I believe he also posted on X that he was paying. Where did you see that the Trust is paying for it?

Ah, a bribe then. I can guarantee it will be a gift of say, Saudi Arabia or Qatar or something.