A sitting area of the University of Warwick was beaten online after it was delivered a bright pink, Barbie-like makeover with an excessive price tag.
The forum on campus in Coventry was completely repainted in bubblegum pink with chairs, tables, umbrellas, plant pots, laters and even bins together.
The university explained the color choice in some frequently asked questions on its website: 'The forum is painted with a striking pink color to create a playful and creative space where ideas can flourish and thrive self -expression.
“Pink is also known that the feelings of warmth, cherishing and rest evokes and helps in making an environment that feels hospitable and including our campus community.”
But commentators on the Instagram – post of the university that announced the newest campus renovation – a multifunctional space for students, employees, societies and visitors – were not so convinced.
One of the most loved comments, which received 175 heart reactions, asked: “Nobody did market research before he decided this?”
Another user wondered who he should keep responsible: “I would like to know who the spirit behind this horror is.”
The project was developed in collaboration with the creative consultancy firm Creative Giants, based on Brighton.
A sitting area of a University of Warwick was beaten online after it came a bright pink, barbie-like makeover with an excessive price tag
The forum on campus in Coventry was completely repainted in bubblegum pink with chairs, tables, umbrellas, plant pots, rattles and even bins in matching
The all-pink makeover of the sitting area is reminiscent of the appearance of 2023 Hit Blockbuster Barbie
The company contributed to the Art Director of Glastonbury Festival, installed installations for the Science Museum in London, worked on the launches of PlayStation and Xbox video games and helped with Meta's advertisements.
RASKI, a Newcastle-based art and architectural firm, 'successfully achieved the vision through production', according to the Warwick website.
In addition to the café of the University Library at Gibbet Hill Road, the area was described as 'a lively new outdoor space', 'Perfect for learning, working and play' in Warwick's Instagram post that announced it last month.
However, two commentators did not seem to agree, with one who asked, “Does anyone actually use this area?” And another gives a kind of answer and said: “Note how nobody uses that space now.”
But what nobody seemed to know in the commentary part was the price tag that the institution paid for the painting and new outdoor furniture.
The University of Warwick paid £ 166,439 for the renovations, in which VAT took over the total expenditure up to £ 199,726.80, according to a request of the freedom of information from the Zwijn.
This corresponds to nearly 22 students from tuition fees.
People on Instagram were skeptical about the makeover, with the most beloved remark (on 374 heart reactions) and said: “Babe Wake up newest Campus Doorn just in the eye.”
The university paid £ 166,439 for the renovations, whereby VAT takes the total expenditure up to £ 199.726.80 – equal to almost 22 students in tuition fees
The normal seats and concrete floors that were next to the café of the University Library on Gibbet Hill Road have previously been overhauled
On his website, Warwick said that it chose the 'striking pink color' to create 'a playful and creative space where ideas can flourish and thrive self -expression'
The project was developed in collaboration with the creative consultancy firm Creative Giants, which worked on Glastonbury Festival
RASKI, a Newcastle-based art and architectural firm, 'successfully realized the vision through production', according to the Warwick website
The university wanted the renovation to be an environmentally friendly project and said on its website that the forum was taken again with 'Sustainable material with high impact'
Another went archaic and asked, “Doth cheat my eyes to me” – and someone else summarized the unresolated tone from the commentary section: “And the crowd goes home.”
Others were just confused and asked: “Why pink?”, “It's pretty pink?”, “What have I just seen?” And, “What the …”, with another simply said, “no . '
The university wanted the renovation to be an environmentally friendly project.
The Warwick website said: 'Building on the university's strategy to create a sustainable future, the forum has been developed using sustainable material with a high impact that can be renewed, reused or recycled.
“For example, the tactile surfaces are made from a post -industrially recycled plastic that has a beautiful pink pigment that gives a seamless terrazzo quality.”
It also encourages spontaneous performance in the new Barbie-Fied environment: 'The forum is a free civilian space to be used with seats and a stage area for spontaneous conversations, performances (such as spoken word, acoustic music and theater), intellectual debates, reading of groups and general meeting. '
Some Instagram users were not a fan and said: “Our campus was lost by liberals” and “utter woke nonsense.”
Another pointed out that the make -over may not last long: “It will soon be pretty black with all that cigarette axis.”
Users flooded the commentary part of Warwick's Instagram message in which the makeover of the sitting area was announced last month and expressed confusion about the all-pink new look of the room
And after car manufacturer Jaguar was confronted in December with controversy about his new Miami Pink car, with his Barbie-like color called 'terribly bad' online, a user went to Instagram with a crying emoji and said: “Inspired by Jaguar.”
A bit of positive commentators wished they could have spent their university days on the forum.
These users said: “I graduated a year and a half early,” “they make Warwick Barbieland as soon as I leave,” and “It looks like we've left Warwick two years early”.
But the tone of the commentary part was usually summarized by one user, who said, “Annoying before my eyes.”
A spokesperson for the University of Warwick said: 'The forum is an open and multi-use outdoor space that can be used by members of the Warwick community and visitors.
'Developed with the help of sustainable materials with high impact that can be renewed, reused or recycled, it is part of wider placemaking plans.
“These plans are intended to improve well -being, encourage connections and the exchange of ideas, and to increase the use of our 720 -hectare campus and create inclusive hospitable experiences for everyone.”
